THE COOKING TABLES BOOKLISTS

There are two lists. The one for readers in North America is a list of books about British cooking. The list for readers in Britain lists mostly books about American cooking. If you select a title on the North American list it will link you to Amazon.com, where you can get further details and buy it if you wish. If you select a title on the British list you will link to Amazon.co.uk. Either way, if you make a purchase, I will get a small commission.

THE BOOKLIST FOR AMERICA

I have selected books on British traditional cuisine, particularly those by the best British cookery writers.

Clarissa Dickson Wright and Jennifer Paterson
Two Fat Ladies Obsessions : Obsessions

I do not usually watch t.v. cooking programmes, but I got hooked on the Two Fat Ladies. Sadly Jennifer Paterson died not long ago. Real cooking, and delicious food.

Jane Grigson, Sophie Grigson (Introduction)
English Food

One of the best books on English cuisine by one of the best English cooks and an introduction by her daughter, who is also a very popular t.v. cook.

Prue Leith
Leith's Cookery Bible

Prue Leith runs a famous cookery school. I do not own this book, but I think it would be an alternative to Delia Smith as a source of standard British recipes. For Delia Smith see below. Opinions vary.

Gary Rhodes
Sweet Dreams

Rhodes Around Britain (Great Foods)

I use recipes from these books frequently. Rhodes assumes that you know basic cooking techniques. He gives very good variations on British traditional dishes, but he is not limited to British cuisine.

Delia Smith
Delia Smith's Christmas

Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course

Delia Smith is Britain's favourite t.v. cook. I am not a big fan. However I am including her books because she does give reliable recipes for British traditional dishes. I particularly recommend the Christmas book for the pudding and cake.

Rick Stein
Taste of the Sea

Rick Stein runs a very successful fish restaurant in Cornwall. As well as his recipes this book gives very good advice on choosing, storing and preparing fish. He also gives a list of American, British and Australian fish, showing which showing which fish can be substituted for which.

The following books all contain traditional British recipes, mostly with the American reader in mind:

Hilaire Walden (editor)
Traditional British Cooking

Sarah Freeman
Best Of Modern British Cookery

Annette Yates
Real British Dishes

Jane Garmey
Great British Cooking : A Well-Kept Secret

Gwenda L Hyman
The New Cooking of Britain and Ireland

A culinary journey in seach of regional foods and innovative chefs. This book contains details of regional restaurants and would be useful for anyone touring the U.K.

Francis Bissell
Food Lover's Introduction to Britain

Peggy Hutchinson
Traditional English Preserves

Koneman
Scottish Cooking

Bobby Freeman
Traditional Food from Wales

Marion Maxwell, Catherine McWilliams (illustrator)
A Little Book of Scottish Baking

Amy Cotler, Prudence See (illustrator)
The Secret Garden Cookbook

Recipes inspired by 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I had to include this book!

For some reason Amazon.com does not list American Cooking in England by Lynn Silverman.The link will take you to Amazon.co.uk. I have not seen a copy of this book, but it seems to be aimed at Americans staying in Britain, and does the same thing as my tables on a bigger scale.

THE BOOKLIST FOR BRITAIN

The point about American cooking is that it is international. Each ethnic group has its own cuisine. Moreover some of the best books on European cuisine and other national cuisines have been written for the American market. The following list is not an attempt to give a comprehensive sample of American cooking. Most of the following books, are by cookery writers whose books I use and can recommend.

Mollie Katzen
The New Moosewood Cookbook

Moosewood Collective
Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home : Fast and Easy Recipes for Any Day

The Moosewood Collective
Sundays At Moosewood Restaurant

The Moosewood Restaurant is in Ithaca New York, a multi-ethnic vegetarian restaurant, run by a collective. I was given the Moosewood Cookbook in the 1970's. I still do a lot of vegetarian cooking for friends, and I think this book is still one of the best, because of its international flavour and American traditional recipes combined. My cookbook is the "old" Moosewood cookbook, not the "New" one in print now. Hopefully the soup recipes have not changed. They are the best I have ever come across. The old cookbook also has a recipe for "Russian Macaroni" which I love serving at dinner parties, because it is not only delicious, but I can guarantee that my friends will never have tasted anything like it.

James Beard, Isabel E Callvert
The James Beard Cookbook

James Beard
James Beard's American Cookery

James Beard
James Beard's New Fish Cookery

My copy of the New Fish Cookery belonged to my Canadian brother-in-law. I was amazed to discover how many different kinds of fish there are in North America, but there are recipes for European varieties too. James Beard was a very popular American cook. He wrote about European as well as North American cuisine. The American Cookery book has ecstatic reviews from Americans living abroad on the Amazon site. One word of warning, his recipes are not low fat!

Betty Crocker
Betty Crocker's Best Loved Recipes

Betty Crocker is to U.S cooking as Mrs Beeton or Delia Smith is to British cooking.

Edward Giobbi, Richard N Wolff
Eat Right Eat Well The Italian Way

I was pleased to find this book still in print. My copy is falling apart. About seven years ago I wanted a book on southern Italian cuisine. I could not find one until I saw this book on a second-hand stall. Edward Giobbi is a New Yorker of southern Italian descent. Richard Wolff is a heart specialist recommending Giobbi's recipes for their low fat content! But do not be put off by the healthy eating hype, these recipes are very very good.

Lynn Silverman, Delora Jones (illustrator)
American Cooking in England

American Cooking Ingredients, Measurements and Recipes translated to British English. I have not got a copy of this book so I do not know how it compares with my tables. It seems to be aimed at North Americans living in Britain.

Rick Stein
Taste of the Sea.

A British book. Even if you never try any of the recipes this book is worth buying for the advice on choosing, storing and preparing fish, as well as the comparison table between European, American and Australian fish.