Los Angeles Times Cookbook Hot List
1. “How To Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman (MacMillan, $25). A fresh approach to the cooking encyclopedia, with more than 1,500 recipes.
Last week: 3
Weeks on list: 27
2. “The New York Times Passover Cookbook” edited by Linda Amster (William Morrow, $25). Collection of almost 50 years of Seder recipes.
Last week: 2
Weeks on list: 4
3. “Soup: A Way of Life” by Barbara Kafka (Artisan, $35). All soups, all the time.
Last week: 1
Weeks on list: 21
4. “Tender at the Bone” by Ruth Reichl (Broadway Books, paperback, $13). A culinary memoir from the New York Times restaurant critic who is about to become editor in chief of Gourmet magazine.
Last week: 6
Weeks on list: 10
5. “Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone” by Deborah Madison (Broadway Books, $40). Vegetarian cookbook with 1,400 recipes and sections on ingredients and cooking methods.
Last week: 4
Weeks on list: 60
6. “Lidia’s Italian Table” by Lidia Bastianich (William Morrow, $26). The woman described as “Italy’s great mom cook” shares some of her recipes.
Last week: 5
Weeks on list: 8
7. “Kitchen Sessions With Charlie Trotter” by Charlie Trotter (Ten Speed Press, $29.95). Companion volume to Trotter’s TV show focuses on preparing fine cuisine at home.
Last week: 7
Weeks on list: 8
8. “Jean-Georges” by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman (Broadway Books, $35). Creative restaurant cooking adapted for the home kitchen.
Last week: 10
Weeks on list: 25
9. “Sophia Loren’s Recipes and Memories” by Sophia Loren (Good Times Publishing, $28). Favorite family recipes and anecdotes from the movie star.
Last week: 9
Weeks on list: 6
10. “The Pie and Pastry Bible” by Rose Levy Beranbaum (Scribner, $35). Another masterwork from America’s most obsessive cookbook writer.
Last week: 8
Weeks on list: 21
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Rankings are based on a Times poll of national cookbook and independent booksellers.