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The Recipe Writer's Handbook, Revised and Updated
 
 
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The Recipe Writer's Handbook, Revised and Updated [Paperback]

Barbara Gibbs Ostmann (Author), Jane Baker (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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Book Description

March 30, 2001
Praise for The Recipe Writer's Handbook
Revised and Expanded

"Barbara Ostmann and Jane Baker are experienced food editors who know their stuff. To achieve success, a recipe must be written with impeccable accuracy and unambiguous clarity. The Recipe Writer's Handbook achieves both objectives in full measure."-Irena Chalmers, author and professional food writing lecturer at The Culinary Institute of America

"The First Edition of The Recipe Writer's Handbook was a terrific resource, and this revised edition is downright indispensable. It is full of answers to questions about recipe style and substance. Ostmann and Baker have cooked up a delicious addition to any serious food writer's desk."-Mitchell Davis, Director of Publications, The James Beard Foundation

"Writing recipes is a tricky business, and anyone who wants to do so successfully should have this book. The tables, glossaries, and charts alone are worth the price, not to

mention the authors' generous helpings of good, sound advice."-John Willoughby, coauthor, Thrill of the Grill and How to Cook Meat

"The Recipe Writer's Handbook is indispensable in the range and depth of information it offers both the novice and seasoned culinary writer. It contains everything you need to know-all beautifully organized and presented in a handy, easy-to-use format. Ostmann and Baker are masters of their trade!"-Paula Lambert, President of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, founder of the Mozzarella Company, and author of The Cheese Lover's Cookbook and Guide

First Edition Nominated for Best Food Book, 1999 World Media Food Awards

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The Recipe Writer's Handbook, Revised and Updated + Will Write for Food: The Complete Guide to Writing Cookbooks, Blogs, Reviews, Memoir, and More (Will Write for Food: The Complete Guide to Writing Blogs,) + Plate to Pixel: Digital Food Photography & Styling
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This guidebook is one of few aimed at its select audience (professional food writers), but you don't have to be a pro to appreciate it. It's also a great resource for all of those self-publishing cookbook authors out there. Authors Barbara Gibbs Ostmann and Jane L. Baker, both experienced newspaper foodies, culled information from a fistful of sources (Williams Sonoma and Food & Wine among them) to create their guide. The results should be a relief both to food writers and to the cooks who rely on their recipes. The Recipe Writer's Handbook addresses recipe-writing style, spellings of common (and not so common) ingredients, definitions of cooking terminology, and nutritional analysis. It stresses, above all else, accuracy, consistency, and clarity; it admonishes the recipe developer to assume nothing about what the readers know (apparently, one editor was asked by a reader how far to drop drop cookies; another got a call from a woman who wanted to know whether her new oven was preheated). Most interesting is the final section, in which food professionals wax philosophical on what makes a good recipe good. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

The Recipe Writer’s Handbook Every recipe you write has the power to make or break a meal—and a cook’s reputation! That’s why it is up to you to combine accuracy, consistency, and your personal style in recipes that are easy to understand and use. Measurements must add up, vocabulary must be clear, and the whole process must be broken down into simple steps with straightforward instructions and error-free presentation. A tall order? Not with The Recipe Writer’s Handbook by your side. Whether you’re working in the kitchen or at the computer, this comprehensive handbook provides definitive guidance on how to write concise and complete recipes without sacrificing your creativity or your personal touch. The Haudbook teaches you how to "think" your way through a recipe to make important decisions and troubleshoot potential problems concerning format and syntax, spelling, cooking terminology, weights and measurements, recipe testing, presentation of the final recipe, and many other areas. In the foreword, Antonia Allegra, president of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, ponders the soul of a well-written recipe. Other leading food authorities, such as Madeleine Kamman, director of the School for American Chefs at Beringer Vineyards; Carolyn O’Neil, of CNN’s "On The Menu"; and Chuck Williams, the founder of Williams-Sonoma cook-ware stores, offer valuable insights into what makes a good recipe. Filled with detailed information, plus extensive resource listings of food promotion organizations, books, and much more, this one-stop reference is an indispensable toot-of-the-trade for anyone who develops, tests, edits, or writes recipes. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 30, 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0471405450
  • ISBN-13: 978-0471405450
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I would be lost without this excellent resource, April 5, 2000
Barbara Gibbs Ostmann is the expert on cookbook writing. I recommend reading this book before you start writing your recipes. I already had everything typed in one file on my computer when I first found her book.

I simply used my search tools in Word to locate all the items she discussed and believe me I had made quite a few common mistakes. The book itself was extremely useful...I was however more impressed that when I wrote to Barbara - she actually wrote back and gave me some of the best advice I have ever recieved. After using almost every principle taught in this book, I can truly say that I have produced a cookbook I am proud of and will enjoy using for a lifetime.

So, whether you grew up overseas like I did and didn't realize powdered sugar was actually called confectioners' sugar, or you are writng recipes that contain foreign words, this is also the book for you. The chapter which gave information on leading food authorities gave me a greater insight into what I needed to give my readership.

If this is the perfect guide - I hope I have produced the perfect cookbook. Thank you Barbara for taking the time to help cookbook writers everywhere. Now I am taking the next step - finding a publisher and creating a website.

~The Rebecca Review
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Cookbook Author for Dummies Book!, July 25, 2007
This review is from: The Recipe Writer's Handbook, Revised and Updated (Paperback)
I loved this book! This book addressed EVERY area that I was doing wrong. I started writing my book without a guide and something in me told me to get a guide just in case. So after browsing on amazon, I found this book and immediately ordered. I stopped writing and immediately began to read and study the tips in this book. I was thrilled to see a couple of pages on how to select the right nutritional software, because I was struggling about how to select the right vendor! I did exactly as recommended and found a great source. If you are writing a cookbook, stop writing and purchase this book before you go any further!
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable, September 5, 2001
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This review is from: The Recipe Writer's Handbook, Revised and Updated (Paperback)
This book now has a permanent place on my desk as an important reference book. Too bad it wasn't around when I wrote MMMMiami--Tempting Tropical Tastes for Home Cooks Everywhere. The book ranges from sophisticated information for the professional writer to general information for the novice. The book is arranged by categories such as recipe writing style and basic metrics. The authors take your hand and guide you through the difficult task of writing clear, interesting, and consistent recipes.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
JUST AS KITCHEN TESTING IS the key to a successfully prepared recipe, editorial testing is the key to a well-written recipe. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
recipe writer, recipe writing, doneness tests, recipe editor, cornflakes cereal, nutrition analysis, recipe method, cup powder, vegetable oil spread, recipe directions, recipe testing, percent butterfat, ungreased pan, cups slices, food professionals, tracking sheet, writing recipes, candy coating, several cookbooks, other cookbooks, preferred spelling, good recipe, recipe tester, ingredient list, recipe name
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, The Recipe Writer's Handbook, New Zealand, Cooking Terminology, United States, John Wiley, Purchasing Information, West Liberty Street, William Morrow, Department of Agriculture, Des Moines, Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, American Egg Board, Copyright Office, Culinary Institute of America, Harvey Steiman, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, Crown Publishers, Lexington Avenue, National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, Rose Levy Beranbaum
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