On Cooking: Techniques From Expert Chefs, Trade Version (3rd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: A must have!
Review: This book covers so much, in such an organized and coherent fashion, it's a 'must have'. My roommate goes to the California Culinary Academy, where this is the background book for most courses. From cutting chickens to making sauces to whipping cream, this is a great reference book. The great thing is it has solid recipies illustrating most techniques and categories.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of techniques I never heard of before
Review: This book is a great reference guide and I needed something to help me once in a while because I am in the restaurant business. There are many photos and information on techniques. Another great book is the Study Guide for the National Servsafe Exam. This book has excellent questions along with answers and explanations to help you get through your classes or to pass the state exam. There are also other culinary study guide books by Patrick Leonardi on Amazon.com

Rating:
Summary: Culinary Wisdom at its Finest
Review: This book's depth, breadth and brilliant photography blew me away

Rating:
Summary: Get this book if you want to become a chef
Review: This is a great starter book if you are planning on going to school to become a chef. Many schools use this book as a core study guide. The picture's are great, as well as the explanations. It is not supposed to be a recipe book but it has 750 recipes. Most "recipe" books only have about 160. my only complaint about this book is that there are no chapters on pickling and preserving (hence only 4 stars instead of 5). it may be a lost art, and much cheaper to just buy jam or pickles, but making them yourself could open up new flavors that you just can't buy at a store. beside's when you make pickles and jam yourself, it just tastes so much better. don't let that discourage you from picking up this book though. This is a great starting point for general cooking. once you know the basic's you can move on to more specialized books and topics.

Rating:
Summary: A great book!!
Review: This is a wonderful book. It's well illustrated and full of helpful information. If you are looking for a recipe filled cookbook I wouldn't suggest this title. If you're looking for a book that will improve your cooking skills this is one of the best I've seen.

Rating:
Summary: From a future chef
Review: We too use this book as a textbook. I have an older edition, but the book is so good that I plan to buy the updated edition.