Center stage are carefully spelled-out recipes flanked by Julia's and Jacques's comments--the accumulated wisdom of two lifetimes of honing their cooking skills. Nothing is written in stone, they imply. And that is one of the most important lessons for every good cook.So sharpen your knives and join in the fun as you learn to make:- Appetizers: from traditional and instant gravlax to your own sausage in brioche and a country p�t�- Soups: from New England chicken chowder and onion soup gratin�e to Mediterranean seafood stew and that creamy essence of mussels, billi-bi- Eggs: omelets and "tortillas"; scrambled, poached, and coddled eggs; eggs as a liaison for sauces and as the puffing power for souffl�s - Salads and Sandwiches: basic green and near-Ni�oise salads; a crusty round seafood-stuffed bread, a lobster roll, and a pan bagnat - Potatoes: baked, mashed, hash-browned, scalloped, souffl�d, and French-fried - Vegetables: the favorites from artichokes to tomatoes, blanched, steamed, saut�ed, braised, glazed, and gratin�ed - Fish: familiar varieties whole and filleted (with step-by-step instructions for preparing your own), steamed en papillote, grilled, seared, roasted, and poached, plus a classic sole meuni�re and the essentials of lobster cookery - Poultry: the perfect roast chicken (Julia's way and Jacques's way); holiday turkey, Julia's deconstructed and Jacques's galantine; their two novel approaches to duck - Meat: the right technique for each cut of meat (along with lessons in cutting up), from steaks and hamburger to boeuf bourguignon and roast leg of lamb - Desserts: cr�me caramel, profiteroles, chocolate roulade, free-form apple tart--as you make them you'll learn all the important building blocks for handling dough, cooking custards, preparing fillings and frostings - And much, much more . . .Throughout this richly illustrated book you'll see Julia's and Jacques's hands at work, and you'll sense the pleasure the two are having cooking together, tasting, exchanging ideas, and raising a glass to savor the fruits of their labor. Again and again they demonstrate that cooking is endlessly fascinating and challenging and, while ultimately personal, it is a joy to be shared.

    While to the north the traditions of the wandering herdsmen are still maintained and tracking dogs search out truffles, exotic fruits that entered the country with the Arabs flourish in the south. This Culinaria title whets your appetite to explore Spain with all your senses. It describes an incomparable panorama of cultural and culinary traditions, as well as an overview of the most important winegrowing regions of the land. Its 488 pages and more than 1,200 photographs clearly illustrate how landscape, climate, and various cultures have left their mark on the diverse cuisine of the country - from Alboraya in the Levant to Zaragoza in the north, from the omnipresent garlic mayonnaise alioli to zamburina mussels. More than 200 recipes drawn from every region ensure that the fascinating reading also becomes a feast for the palate.

    Whether freshly caught Matjes from the North, or original Swabian Maultaschen, this book’s authentic recipes, covering the full range of regional and national specialties, and its wealth of background information, can stir the heart of even the most culinary-spoiled reader. Take a look at just how hearty, sophisticated, or sweet German cuisine can be.

    No other country in the world can boast such an immense wealth of specialties. No other country has anything remotely comparable its network of sophisticated restaurants, where thousands of chefs cherish the tradition of great cooking and show remarkable creativity in continually trying to create new delights. No other country produces so many different excellent wines. Experts from the "métiers de bouche" together with first-class chefs have helped to sketch out a new and up-to-date portrait of this gourmet nation which will be richly rewarding to everyone, whether they prefer to enjoy their favorite dishes on the spot in France or cook them in their own kitchen. Or perhaps they will simply be enchanted in a completely new way by the enormous variety of magnificent photographs and tempting recipes, together with the knowledgeable text describing Frances' cuisine and what lies behind it.

    An unforgettable odyssey through the world's legendary culinary capitals, each book includes 130 recipes and full-color photographs throughout.