Product Details

• Actors: Chef Instructors of Culinard Culinary Institute
• Directors: Don Magnoli
• Format: Box set, Color, Special Edition, NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 2
• Studio: Interactive Cooking School
• DVD Release Date: March 21, 2005
• Run Time: 240 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00083ZQ9O
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86,861 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Actor
Essentials of Cooking is an enhanced version of the popular "Cooking Basics" program also by Interactive Cooking School. Essentials of Cooking contains over 130 video demonstrations, 5 cooking guides, printable instructions and unlike previous versions contains all cooking and shopping demonstrations on 2 DVDs so you can use the program on your TV, home computer or both! Included with the program is a waterproof kitchen mousepad with a Food Equivelents Guide.

Product Description
If you have ever been stumped by a recipe, ever needed to substitute an ingredient you don't have for one you did, or want to learn how to prepare differnt fresh ingredients, seafood and produce, Essentials of Cooking is for you.

Easy to use on your PC or television, Essentials of Cooking requires no prior cooking experience yet has something for even the most seasoned home cook.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Culinary School on just 3 DVD's!, June 18, 2007

By	A. Lejbovitz (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this DVD with the intention of learning how to cook different types of foods. This comes on 3 DVD's and covers a wide range of cooking skills ranging from knife skills and vegetable preparation, to specific cooking techniques.

This is really educational and can be a drop boring at some points if you are looking for the Razzle-Dazzle that comes with a Food Network show. The chefs don't have that 'dynamic' power to draw in an audience. But they are smart and are patient to show the audience every step in cooking.

Definitely a MUST if you want to increase your knowledge about preparing different foods.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!, November 6, 2008

By	ElizaDoolittle - See all my reviews

For me, this product was definitely worth the money. I agree that this program isn't "flashy" - but that's not really what I was looking for. Most cooking shows and DVDs are recipe based, which is fine... unless you lack the fundamentals of cooking. "Essentials of Cooking" provides just that: the BASICS.

The program is extremely thorough, and taught me so many things that I wished I had learned from my Mom. For example, the DVD portion provides step-by-step instructions and video demonstrations for basic knife skills, stove & oven cooking techniques (how to saute, fry, bake, etc), buying and preparation guides for produce, meat, seafood, and poultry. I've already experienced several "aha" moments during the video demos - and haven't even gotten to the CD-rom resources yet!

Bottom line: If you already know the basics, look elsewhere. But if you want to learn (or re-learn) the fundamentals, get this program.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Nearly "Content Free" , October 23, 2007

By	Thomas G McBride "Tom Goat" (NJ) - See all my reviews

No depth at all. Really lame. There are many much better options. For example, get a DVD by Jacques Pepin or Julia Child -- these have 10,000 times more content than this item. And its style reminds me of a WWII vintage military training film. Computerwise, it is behind the times by 20 years. A total waste of my money.