The New Basics Cookbook

Customer Reviews

Basic if You've Been Cooking Seriously for 5-10 Years

I bought my first copy seven years ago. This was the cookbook I learned to cook from. How silly was I? I spent nearly two years learning about food from this volume and the Silver Palate series, and if I had to do it all over again, I would have begun my journey with the Joy of Cooking or the Fannie Farmer Cookbook. While I learned a lot about food and entertaining, these books require a certain degree of knowledge. It's like going into Calc II without taking Pre-Calc and Calc I.

The recipes make for good food, and it's great for dinner parties and large gatherings, since the attendants truly enjoy the end results. However, the method is time consuming and not for the faint of heart.

All that said, going from this cookbook to the Cook's Illustrated series, The Way to Cook, Joy of Cooking, and all the fancy restaurant cookbooks (some of them VERY good!) was an ABSOLUTE BREEZE! Now, I don't even refer to New Basics too often since if I want an explanation of something, I go to Joy and if I want something fancy but not frivolous, I read Cook's, Alfred Portale, or Julia Child.

I tend to use this book for summer and fall parties, when I have more time and inclination to find the ingredients.

Still excellent after all these years

Like some of the other reviewers, I just bought my second copy of this book because the first one, which I have had since its original publication, was worn out. Although some of the recipes are "dated" in that they are overly fussy, there are so many recipes in here that have become staples over the years and that get consistent raves every time I prepare them. The carrot and squash puree, the black and white bean salad... even the Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing recipe... I have made over and over and never get tired of them. That is more than I can say for some of the dozens of other cookbooks that are collecting dust on my shelves. The recipes are not "beginners recipes" by any means in the same sense as the Fanny Farmer cookbook, and yet when I first got this book, I was in my 20's and not at all experienced in the kitchen. But the recipes were clear and easy to follow, and I credit this cookbook with helping to move me up to the "next level" in my cooking all those years ago.

The New Basics Cookbook

It is a classic among cookbooks. The recipes are uniformly excellent. If you love and have the time to cook and are not on the Southbeach diet or need to be on one,I highly recommend it.