CookThatBook

With less than ten shopping days left before Christmas, I’ve been receiving quite a few frantic emails from people looking for gift ideas for the foodie in their lives. Hence the existence of this blog post! I thought it would be fun to list my top five cookbooks reviewed this year, and group them with some fun products to compliment the theme of each book.

First I stopped at Well Seasoned in Langley; my favourite gourmet food store. Not only do they offer an incredible variety of food items, food related products and cooking classes that will have your inner gourmet doing summersaults, the staff are also fun and knowledgeable and always willing to lend a hand. (Thanks guys for letting me run rampant in the store gathering all sorts of items for my photo shoot!)

While I was in the store I had a chance to visit with owner Angie Quaale and talk about some of the most popular food items people are purchasing this year, which include tagines, meat thermometers, and nutmeg grinders (fresh is best baby!) But with a store full of amazing goodies it is the handmade marshmallows from Pink Spatula that has her most excited. They come in seven different flavours (I have a weakness for the holiday spice variety) and pair perfectly with a decadent sipping chocolate.

As for cookbooks? Angie’s two favourites for the year are Quinoa 365: The Everyday Superfood and For the Love of Salad. Great minds must think alike because both books made it onto my list as well! Speaking of my list…here it is folks. Enjoy! Oh and be sure to post a comment about the food related items on your list this year. I’d love to hear what you’re hoping to find under the tree.

(NOTE: cookbooks listed below are my favourites – in no particular order – that I have reviewed this year. They are not limited to 2010 releases).

Around My French Table, by Dorie Greenspan ($40)
Food Mill ($64.99)
Preserved Lemons ($9.99)
Fleur de Sel with herbs d’provence ($16.99)
Tart Pan ($12.29)
Madeleines Pan ($7.89)

Gale Gand’s Brunch!: 100 Fantastic Recipes for the Weekend’s Best Meal, by Gale Gand ($27.50)
Silicone Egg Poacher ($10.99)
Cocoa ($9.99)
49^th Parallel Coffee ($15.99)
Holiday Spice Marshmallows ($5.99)
Vanilla Paste ($19.99)
Instant Espresso Coffee ($6.69)
English Muffin Rings ($4.99)

Quinoa 365: The Everyday Superfood, by Patricia Green & Carolyn Hemming ($29.95)
Tagine ($119.99)
Quinoa Flour ($6.49)
Black Quinoa ($7.49)
Golden Quinoa ($6.89)

For the Love of Salad, by Jeanelle Mitchell ($19.95)
Garlic Press ($34.99)
Mandoline Slicer ($79.99)
Salad Spinner ($39.99)
Olive Oil ($18.69)
Champagne Vinegar ($13.99)
Red Wine Vinegar ($17.99)
Raspberry Vinegar ($9.99)

The Main: Recipes, by Anthony Sedlak ($29.95)
Cooking Class with Anthony Sedlak ($60)
(click here for a schedule of Anthony’s classes held at Well Seasoned in the new year)