Filed under: Books , Australia , Cookbook of the Day When I mentioned that the chef I would most like to have cook for me is Bill Granger , it did not immediately occur to me that some people are unfamiliar with him. He is an exceptionally talented Australian cook whose style is of simple, fresh food with clean tastes and, of course, an Aussie flair. I bought a copy of Sydney Food when I first visited his restaurant in Sydney, bills . The cookbook, which includes all the favorites from the cafe menu, is beautifully put together , with straightforward instructions and mouthwatering illustrations. Since it is an Aussie cookbook, you will want to either have a scale or a conversion chart with you when you cook from it, or just try one of his newer cookbooks, like bills food .

Filed under: Vegetarian , Vegan , Books , Cookbook of the Day Vegan cooking may sound intimidating - or possibly unappetizing - at first, but I assure you that it's not. After all, there are lots of things that even omnivores eat on a regular basis that are vegan, like salads, pasta sauces and even cakes , that happen to be vegan and don't get the name attached to them. Vegan with a Vengeance is a book with over 150 excellent recipes that can certainly stand on their own without having to qualify a "yum!" with an excuse about it being vegan. The recipes are, for the most part, inexpensive and easy. One of the things that is great about it is that, unlike some other vegan cookbooks, there are quite a few recipes for cookies and other baked goods. Check out the ginger cookies and the stunning "fauxstess" cupcakes  at Rae's blog, bunnyfoot , where she sampled a few of the recipes from the cookbook with excellent results. It is a fantastic book to get if you want to have a vegetarian meal once in a while to give your diet (and your family's) some variety, not just if you're vegan. It is also a very useful book to have if you are dealing with allergies to dairy or eggs. If you actually are vegan, however, this is a "must have" in your cookbook collection.

Filed under: Chocolate , Books , Cookbook of the Day Alice Medrich must be one of the most talented pastry chefs to have ever published a cookbook. "Pastry chef" seems like a better description than "baker" because, though she bakes, she specializes in chocolate. Bittersweet: Recipes and Tales from a Life in Chocolate is an exceptional work from her and won the IACP awards for Best Single Subject Cookbook and Cookbook of the Year in 2004, after the book was released. The book covers different types of chocolate, detailing levels of sweetness and types of cocoas, and provides a wealth of information on how to work with it, including troubleshooting common problems. Not only does it cover the topics, but Medrich explains the difficult nature of chocolate in an extremely eloquent way, something which not all writers who have tackled the topic can claim. While her prose is detailed, it pales in comparison to the level of specificity that Medrich applies in her recipes. While it may seem intimidating at first glance, the recipes are still very readable and can walk the cook through from start to finish of some of the most mouthwatering chocolate creations you can imagine. The book is also full of stunning illustrations, should you need any encouragement to attempt the recipes.

Filed under: Books , Cookbook of the Day 50 Great Curries of India is a beautifully presented book of authentic, Indian curries. While there are fifty curries in the book, there are more than fifty recipes, as rice, beans, breads and condiments (such as chutneys) are also included. The history, geography, and the philosophy of each dish are eloquently presented and all vary dramatically in taste and in origin, despite the fact that they are all known as types of curries. Also included in the book is a detailed guide to spices and ingredients, which can help not only in preparing the recipes, but in just improving general knowledge about the various components of Indian cuisine. This particular edition of the book is the paperback version of the 10th Anniversary edition and the multiple printings (not to mention the success of the book in Britain, where it has sold thousands of copies) are a testament to the book's quality and longevity.

Filed under: Books , Grilling , Cookbook of the Day Just about everything that can be grilled is grilled by Steven Raichlen in the pages of How to Grill . It isn't subtitled "The complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques" for nothing. Raichlen starts with the basics and covers everything from burgers to brisket to creme brulee. Even experienced grillers will be sure to learn something new, whether it's about proper tying techniques or cold smoking. I like the fact that it is available paperback, since I can't really picture lugging around a heavy, shiny hardback book back and forth to the grill. Paperback seems more casual, more grill-appropriate. So, while you're tackling Sarah's question about charcoal versus gas , (which Raichlen also goes over in this book) you might as well start bookmarking all the recipes you want to try.

Filed under: Books I admit that this isn't a cookbook, but The Nasty Bits , Anthony Bourdain's newest book, is worth a look if you are a fan of his culinary adventures and up-front tone. Officially released today, it is a collection of essays and articles by Bourdain and each one is a stand alone piece, like a separate menu item. Many, if not all, of the pieces have previously been published, but that didn't take anything away from Steingarten's   essays and it shouldn't diminish the entertainment value of Bourdain's forays into the various forms of gastronomy, from "the nether regions of unusual beasties" to celebrity chef-owned Vegas venues.

Filed under: Breakfast , Books , Cookbook of the Day I know that we just had a breakfast book , but there is no time like Monday to remind everyone that a breakfast is the best way to start your day. Or your week. Of course, as the book says on its cover, you can certainly have it at any time of day. A Real American Breakfast has over 250 recipes and the chapters are broken down by categories, so it's easy to find the type of food that will suit your appetite. While the book does have the standard pancake and waffle recipes that are typical of breakfast cookbooks, it offers a lot more, from smoothies to hearty strata (casserole-type dishes). There are so many options that kitchen could eventually replace your local diner as your favorite place for satisfying, breakfast-oriented comfort foods.

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Filed under: Breakfast , Books , Cookbook of the Day The CIA combines helpful, step-by-step recipes with beautiful photos in The Culinary Institute of America: Breakfasts & Brunches , the perfect combination to get your brain and your taste buds eager to get to work in the morning. The volume covers the basics that you'll want to have every day, like banana bread or oatmeal, and more elaborate dishes that are worthy of company or spoiling yourself on a lazy Sunday, like cheese blintzes and wild mushroom quiche. All of the more than 175 recipes are up to the high professional standard of the CIA. It's a great, comprehensive book and, because it focuses on breakfast and brunch, it's a great way to fill out your cookbook collection.

Filed under: Books , Food Quest , Cookbook of the Day Jane and Michael Stern, the pair behind the Roadfood website  and Roadfood , the ultimate in-car food resource, have just released Two for the Road . It's part cookbook, part culinary travel guide and all great storytelling. The book chronicles their adventures - most of which happen over food, of course - all across the country, traveling more than 3 million miles across tiny dirt roads and busy highways. They have a fantastic eye for detail, from the tie of the man who sold them their first car to the mouthwatering perfection of hash browns at a diner in a town that is a speck on a pastel-colored state map. On top of the wonderful, fun-to-read text, ending each of the chapters are recipes that they have collected on their travels, so you can make some of the best "road foods" at home after you read about them - if you're not in the car and on the road yourself before you finish the book.