Appetizers Books

A Day at elBulli

Ferran Adria, Juli Soler, Albert Adria

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 2.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

''Ferran stands head and shoulders above any other chef cooking in the world today...truly in a class of his own.'' -- Gordon Ramsay

''Ferran Adria is one of the most generous creative geniuses the world has ever known...this book offers a glimpse into the mind of this amazing man who has revolutionized how we cook today and tomorrow.'' -- Jose Andres

A Day at elBulli: An Insight into the Ideas, Methods and Creativity of Ferran Adria reveals for the first time the creative process, innovative philosophy and extraordinary techniques of the multi-award-winning restaurant, elBulli, and its legendary head chef, Ferran Adria.

Situated on a remote beach on the northeast coast of Spain, elBulli is famous for being the ultimate pilgrimage site for foodies, and a reservation that is nearly impossible to obtain. Each year elBulli is open for just six months, and receives more than 2 million requests for only 8,000 seats. Renowned for his spectacular ever-changing 30-course tasting menu, Adria's pioneering culinary techniques have been applauded - and imitated - by top chefs around the globe for the past decade, and he was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people of our time.

If you weren't one of the lucky few to get in this year (2008 reservations were booked a year in advance), you can now experience the restaurant like never before. This generously-illustrated 600-page ''day in the life'' features over 800 photographs, menus, recipes and diagrams, and presents a guided tour through a full working day at elBulli.

The book highlights 30 dishes which represent a full elBulli menu, and Adria shows you how he creates the restaurant's innovative cuisines. Sample recipes include Samphire Tempura with Saffron and Oyster Cream, Steamed Brioche with Rose-Scented Mozzarella, and Coulant/Souffle of Granadilla with Cardamom Toffee.

In April 2008, elBulli won the #1 Best Restaurant in the World, for the third year in a row at the S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards.

Amuse-Bouche: Little Bites That Delight Before the Meal Begins

Rick Tramonto, Mary Goodbody

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Amuse-bouche (pronounced ah-myuz boosh) are today what hors d'oeuvres were to America in the 1950s: a relatively unknown feature of French culinary tradition that, once introduced, immediately became standard fare. Chefs at many fine restaurants offer guests an amuse-bouche, a bite-sized treat that excites the tongue and delights the eye, before the meal is served. Nobody does it better than the celebrated executive chef/partner of Chicago’s Tru, Rick Tramonto. Amuse-bouche are a fa-vorite of diners at Tru, many of whom come expressly to enjoy the “grand amuse"--an assortment of four different taste sensations.

Amuse-Bouche offers an array of recipes, from elegant and sophisticated to casual and surprising—but always exquisite—that will inspire home cooks to share these culinary jewels with their guests. From Black Mission Figs with Mascarpone Foam and Prosciutto di Parma to Curried Three-Bean Salad, from Soft Polenta with Forest Mushrooms to Blue Cheese Foam with Port Wine Reduction, Tramonto’s creations will embolden the novice and the experienced cook alike to experiment with unfamiliar ingredients and techniques.

Organized by type of amuse and season of the year, the book also includes a directory of sources for specialty products. With more than a hundred recipes and with fifty-two full-page color photographs by James Beard Award--winning photographer Tim Turner, Amuse-Bouche enchants the eyes as much as an amuse pleases the palate.

Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America

Jose Andres, Richard Wolffe

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The first major Spanish cookbook in two decades, from José Andrés, recently named America’s Chef of the Year by Bon Appétit.


Tapas are Spain's gift to the world of great cooking: a fresh and fun way to eat with friends and family—and easy to make at home. Using simple Mediterranean ingredients, a tapas feast is a perfect combination of little dishes packed with big flavors. Tapas by José Andrés is the first major book in a generation to celebrate this world-renowned way of eating, from a man who is the best possible authority: an award-winning Spanish chef in America, with seven highly acclaimed restaurants to his name. Recently named Bon Appétit's Chef of the Year, José is a new star in American cooking, as well as the nation's leading expert on Spanish cuisine. Having worked as a chef in the United States for two decades, he's also a thoroughly American cook who draws on American ingredients for his inspiration, and is a master at translating his native Spanish cooking for this country's kitchens. His simple and delicious recipes include:

• Fish such as American Red Snapper Baked in Salt; Monkfish with Romesco Sauce; and Basque-Style Stuffed Maryland Blue Crabs

• Chicken including Catalan-Style Chicken Stew; Chicken Sautéed with Garlic; and Chicken with Lobster

• Pork such as Chorizo Stewed in Hard Cider; Figs with Spanish Ham; and Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Apples

• Rice dishes including Lobster Paella; Black Rice with Squid and Shrimp; and Traditional Rice with Clams

All these recipes are full of tremendous flavor and creativity, as well as in-depth ingredient notes and a rich atmosphere that will transport you to the lush countryside, hip cafés, and sun-drenched coasts of Spain—and back again to dinner at home.

This is a breakthrough cookbook from an extraordinary chef.

Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook

Martha Stewart

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Total reviews: 75 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

No one knows better how to give a party than Martha Stewart--and as she proves in this comprehensive and visually dazzling handbook, great parties begin with great hors d'oeuvres. Three hundred all-new recipes, each photographed in full color, show why Martha Stewart is still America's style authority and most trusted party host.

It was fifteen years ago that Martha Stewart first turned her creativity and talent for teaching to this subject, when she defined the look and flavor of party appetizers for professionals and home cooks in Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres. Since then, America's tastes have evolved and Martha's own approach to food has expanded to encompass flavors from around the world, seasonal ingredients fresh from the garden, and  innovative preparations all presented with an unsurpassed eye for beauty.

In this book, after laying out the basic foundations and techniques, Martha presents chapters on different hors d'oeuvre categories that are brimming with new ideas--Layered and Stacked; Wrapped, Rolled, Filled, Folded, and Stuffed; and Skewered and Threaded. Whether a classic cocktail party food reinvigorated with her wit and style--chicken salad tea sandwiches turned on their sides and encrusted with sesame seeds, for example--or deliciously decadent dips for crudités and seafood updated with Indian dhal or white beans and mustard greens; tiny toasted breadboxes filled with Welsh rarebit; or savory sips of soups in edible cups, these impeccable jewels are as exciting as anything Martha has ever invited her readers to serve on the buffet or tea table or pass among guests.

Reflecting Martha's favorite way to entertain now--informal and relaxed--there is also Bites and Pieces, a chapter packed with simple recipes for parties that please the guests without undoing the host. Marinated olives, spiced and seasoned nuts, handmade cheese crackers, and spicy cocktail ribs can be prepared quickly and easily in advance and arranged before the doorbell rings. Even the drinks have been provided: classic and contemporary cocktails, imaginatively garnished, are accompanied by a guide to stocking the bar and serving champagne.

Everything about Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook has been considered to create a book that is easy to use. The size was chosen to comfortably fit in the hand, in the cookbook holder, or on the kitchen counter. Color photographs in the front of the book help cooks select which hors d'oeuvres to combine for their own parties; the cross-referenced recipes in the back have been tested in Martha's own kitchen and in the test kitchens of Martha Stewart Living; and two place-marking ribbons keep track of both picture and recipe. And every detail has been covered--tips on techniques and ingredients, serving ideas, menu suggestions, recipe variations, advice on party planning, and even a glossary of equipment, special ingredients, and supplies, with a guide to finding them. With its range of recipes, its wealth of ideas, its lavish photography, and its innovative format, Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook is simply the most instructive, inspirational, and indispensable guide to hors d'oeuvres ever compiled.

Tapas (Revised): The Little Dishes of Spain

Penelope Casas

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Penelope Casas, who introduced the classic little dishes of Spain to American cooks more than twenty years ago, now gives us a splendid updated edition of that seminal book—with fifty exciting new recipes and eight full pages of new color photographs showing tapas in all their glory.

Here are all the appetizer dishes that have long been a tradition in Spanish cuisine—mélanges of seafood in aromatic sauces; little ragouts of meat, sausages, beans; colorful salads and marinades; the omelets called tortillas that enclose a variety of tasty tidbits; banderillas, zesty combinations on skewers; and empanadas, savory delights encased in pastry. The new recipes Casas includes reflect the influence of the innovative cooking in Spain today—dishes seasoned with soy sauce or balsamic vinegar; ingredients wrapped in flaky phyllo pastry; accents of goat cheese and arugula; foie gras in elegant presentations.

With Spanish cooking at the forefront of today’s cuisine, this “exceptional book by the leading American authority on the foods of Spain” (as Craig Claiborne dubbed it in 1985) is a must for every adventurous cook in America today.

Hors d'Oeuvre at Home with The Culinary Institute of America

The Culinary Institute of America (CIA)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

What a disappointment 1 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I expected so much more from this book! There are so few photos, and the ones they do have are duplicated! There is only one recipe on each page and some of them are so unbelievably basic, it's silly. There is no information on making ahead, which busy cooks are always interested.

Editorial Review:

"The Culinary Institute of America is the nation's most influentialtraining school for professional cooks."
--Time magazine

The Culinary Institute of America is the nation's premier culinary training ground--the place where many top chefs and caterers have honed their skills in the kitchen. The school's emphasis on solid technique and rigorous hands-on training is widely respected and admired by culinary insiders the world over.

Now, in Hors d'Oeuvre at Home with The Culinary Institute of America, the experts show you how to prepare an impressive selection of bite-sized creations for any gathering. From skewers and dips to desserts, they explain the various types of hors d'oeuvre and walk you step by step through the techniques you need to create each one. Featuring more than 150 stylish recipes and 40 full-color photos, the book provides all the guidance and know-how you need to cater your own parties and dazzle your guests.

Small Bites

Jennifer Joyce

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Exotic 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I got this book in the attempt of trying something different or possibly entertaining. The book has all the ideas for some some fabulous menus; now I just need the extra motivation to get the ingrediants and go for it. Really though, the recipes are quite simple for the most part but totally exotic. The pairing of certain ingredients is something many of us wouldn't come up with. The organization of the book is very good with every style from fried to wrapped. As the title indicates everything is on the small portion scale, perfect for either small appetites or pupu's, you know, tapas, or that other name for mini plates that sounds like a street walker. The Middle Eastern and Japanese fair is especially tasty, or at least the pictures look good and the thought of cooking up such treats is. This is a good reference book for preparing some exotic food for guests or that special someone. Oh yeah, the color photographs are enough to inspire most any foodie.

Editorial Review:

Small Bites: Tapas, sushi, mezze, antipasti and more! By Jennifer Joyce"Small Bites by Jennifer Joyce is a celebration of a variety of delights; from tapas, sushi, dim sum to antipasti and many other kinds of finger foods from around the world. This no fu

Bite Size: Elegant Recipes for Entertaining

Francois Payard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

From the elegant hors d'oeuvres to the sparkling Champagne, cocktail parties are loved by everyone. But fun as they are to attend, the thought of hosting one can be a little daunting—until now. With Bite Size, legendary chef François Payard shows home cooks how to prepare simple, sensational appetizers that will leave guests impressed and hosts with energy to spare.

François knows how to throw a good party. In addition to his renowned New York restaurant, Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro, he runs the upscale catering company Tastings. Several times a week, he prepares sophisticated canapés and light bites for hundreds of people. In Bite Size, he presents a collection of his favorite recipes made easy for everyday cooks.

Along with chapters on meat, fish, vegetable, and cheese hors d'oeuvres, François includes a wealth of helpful hosting tips, hints, and serving suggestions—try serving soup in shot glasses, for example. The innovative recipes use simple, easy-to-find ingredients for spectacular results such as Prosciutto-Wrapped Gnocchis, Sweet Corn Madeleines with Caviar and Crème Fraîche, and Crab and Mango Salad in Apple Cups. Each recipe is accompanied by a lush, full-color photograph of the finished dish.

Whip up a few of these easy Bite Size treats and pop the cork on a bottle of bubbly—it's time to enjoy the party!

Betty Crocker Just Cupcakes: 100 Recipes for the Way You Really Cook (Betty Crocker Books)

Betty Crocker Editors

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Editorial Review:

No one can resist the cute and compact confection called a cupcake, and Betty Crocker Just Cupcakes: 100 Recipes for the Way You Really Cook shows you how to make everyday, elegant, holiday-themed, and special occasion cupcakes that are easy to make and fun to decorate. Affordable and conveniently formatted with a lay-flat binding, this book includes quick tips, directions for substitutions, and advice on make-ahead cake to save you time. Fifty-five photos accompany recipes like Key West, Peanut Butter and Jelly and Midnight Molten cupcakes.

Hors d'Oeuvres

Victoria Blashford-Snell, Eric Treuille

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Best "Do Ahead" 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I go to this book time & time again. The biggest praise I have is the preparation. Having your snacks done in advance is a big plus. This has the most realistic recipes for a "chef & hostess" in one. It really is worth having. My favorites are the "Ginger Chicken Cakes", "Fennel marinated Feta" & "Filo Tartlets". If you are looking at: Small Bites by Jen Joyce is good too, but it is based more on "small bites". It shows good do aheads too, but lots of the recipe's need silverware & plates/bowls to serve. Hors D'Oeuvres is better suited for picking up with your hand and popping in your mouth with only a bamboo skewer or cocktail napkin needed.

Editorial Review:

From spicy cilantro shrimp to eggplant caviar crostini, this uniquely practical guide includes full-color, step-by-step instructions to ensure successful party food whatever the occasion. AUTHOR BIO: At the age of 13, Eric Treuille began the apprenticeship that led him to master the art of classic French cooking. Work as a chef has taken him from Paris to London, where he is the director of London's Books for Cooks cooking school. He is the author of DK's Hors d'Oeuvres, Pasta, and Ultimate Bread. Victoria Blashford-Snell trained at Le Cordon Bleu, and runs a highly successful catering company.