Kitchen Essentials: The Complete Illustrated Reference to the Ingredients, Equipment, Terms, and Techniques used by Le Cordon Bleu (Hardcover)

by Le Cordon Bleu (Author), Carroll & Brown (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A concise, colorful resource for both the novice cook and experienced chef

This comprehensive, highly illustrated book is chock-full of enlightening and eye-opening culinary information, covering a vast range of topics that teach readers what they need to know to be successful in the kitchen—from cooking techniques and equipment to essential ingredients. Le Cordon Bleu Kitchen Essentials offers expert guidance on everything from choosing pots and pans to deboning poultry to storing ingredients—as well as logical solutions to common mistakes. The easy-to-follow text, clearly defined terms, and uncommonly helpful tips make this reference a must-have for all modern kitchens. It demonstrates techniques with 1,100 step-by-step color photographs. Plus, the book outlines the vast range of equipment, along with buying tips and cleaning and care information. Le Cordon Bleu Kitchen Essentials illustrates the cleaning and preparation of food, as well as cooking times and features classic recipes to teach the principal uses of each ingredient.

Le Cordon Bleu provides expert training in cuisine, pastry, and baking. Through its six schools, a student body of over fifty nationalities, and a distinguished team of thirty international Master Chefs, Le Cordon Bleu is dedicated to preserving and passing on the mastery and appreciation of the culinary arts.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (November 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471393487
• ISBN-13: 978-0471393481
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #293,377 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous! Useful!, April 20, 2002

By	Meg K. "Meg" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I've been looking for this book for ages although I didn't know it until I found it! It tells you all the basic information about nearly every possible ingredient and some basic prep info on most--how to truss poultry, scale fish, serve duck, cut and steam fruits and veggies, etc.. Also included is info about herbs and spices, different salad greens, oils, vinegars. So complete! It makes cooking seem very simple and has enabled me to experiment with confidence. And it's *beautifully* presented in full color--someone else said it could be a coffee table book and that person is absolutely right. My friends have been known to start paging through it if I leave it out. The only thing that might improve it is if there were a few actual recipes to try out--those who are looking for recipes will be disappointed as what Kitchen Essentials offers are more guidelines than recipes. I'm hoping that Le Cordon Bleu has or will put out a regular cookbook that will complement this wonderful book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed information on ingredients, equipment, & techniques, January 26, 2001

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Kitchen Essentials is a compendium of culinary instruction and creations from the famed French cooking school with detailed information on ingredients, equipment, terms, and techniques utilized by their instructor chefs. Wonderfully illustrated throughout with full-color photography, Kitchen Essentials is a superbly presented, very highly recommended, single volume course for elegant cooking that covers fish and shellfish, meats, poultry and game, dairy products, bean and grains, vegetables (including seaweed and sea vegetables), fruits and nuts, and flavorings (including pantry extras, sweeteners, chocolate, coffee and teas).

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Useful, March 22, 2001

By A Customer

This book is a very useful reference; it tells you everything from how to tell when a tomato is perfect for eating to how to select a knife that will cut it perfectly. It is also stuning - it could be a coffee table book.