ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Borders is the place to shop
this season for cookbooks from the world's most renowned and respected chefs
and cooking personalities, including Ina Garten, Giada De Laurentiis, Jamie
Oliver, Martha Stewart and Grant Achatz. Borders' expert cookbook buyer, Ellen
Clark, is serving up a hardy helping of recommendations, making it simple for
customers to select just the right cookbook for the cooks and foodies on their
holiday lists, as well as busy friends and loved ones who instead of eating
out, want to cook delicious and healthy recipes at home.
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Clark's top cookbook picks are below, and for each selection she's
provided valuable insight into why customers will love to give -- and receive
-- them. Customers can find these cookbooks, as well as gifts for everyone on
their holiday lists, in Borders and Waldenbooks stores and at Borders.com.
-- "Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics: Fabulous Flavor from Simple
Ingredients" by Ina Garten. "This wonderful cookbook by culinary sensation Ina
Garten is a great choice for cooks at all experience levels. The recipes are
uncomplicated, delicious and absolutely loaded with flavor. Beautiful
photographs, expert advice and a helpful Q&A section make this an absolute
kitchen essential."
-- "Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites" by Giada De Laurentiis. "Bold,
vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients - that is what this cookbook is all
about. It's full of easy-to-prepare, delectable soups, snacks and entrees. Ms.
De Laurentiis also pairs a lot of ingredients that many people wouldn't think
to put together like vanilla in risotto, but they work and the dishes are
excellent. This is a great choice for cooks at all experience levels who love
Italian food."
-- "Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home
Cook." "This cookbook has incredible attention to detail. Much like a culinary
class, it introduces readers to cooking basics like how to correctly hold a
knife and pick the best ingredients, and then builds on those basics, giving
new cooks the tools to prepare great dishes. And if the reader is ever in
doubt about something, there are incredible photographs throughout. It's
perfect for the novice because it's instructional and it's great for seasoned
cooks who want to perfect some of their styles and practices."
-- "Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life" by Jamie Oliver. "This
cookbook is a great gift for the cook who also gardens because it truly
marries the home and garden. The recipes feature fresh, everyday ingredients
that can be grown in your own garden, but that should not put non-gardeners
off because the ingredients for these recipes can be easily found at the local
grocery at any time of the year."
-- "Alinea" by Grant Achatz. "This is the ultimate foodie cookbook. It's a
gorgeous, coffee-table-quality book that casual cooks wouldn't regularly use
because the recipes tend to be very complex, but if you're feeling
experimental or want to wow your friends and family with leading, cutting-edge
dishes, this is a great choice. Even if you never cook a recipe in this
cookbook, the photos are lush and beautiful making the book a great addition
to anyone's library."
-- "The Bon Appetit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook" by Barbara Fairchild. "I
personally love this cookbook! It's from Bon Appetit -- a trusted magazine.
All the recipes have been tried and tested, so you really can't go wrong with
them. They're generally simple and quick and can be easily made on a weeknight
after work. Every time I open this cookbook, I know that I will find an
interesting recipe to try and I've not made a bad dish yet using this
cookbook."
-- "How to Cook Everything: 2,000 Simple Recipes for Great Food" by Mark
Bittman. "What makes this cookbook so great is that the author uses fairly
basic recipes, but then offers suggestions for adding different ingredients to
the recipe to change it up or make it better. This cookbook really challenges
new cooks to step out of their comfort zone, so if there's a new cook on your
list who is interested in experimenting with new dishes but wants the piece of
mind knowing their recipes are going to turn out, this is the cookbook for
them. With 2,000 recipes, it will keep them happily cooking for years!"
-- "A Day at elBulli" by Ferran Adria. "This is another stunning book, a
coffee-table-quality cookbook written by Ferran Adria, a chef whom many
consider to be the best in the world. Not a book necessarily for the everyday
cook, but for someone who loves food and who loves to travel - and for the
person who really enjoys the backstory behind the recipes-this book is a great
choice."
-- "Hello, Cupcake! Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make" by
Alan Richardson and Karen Tack. "This book shows readers how to make
incredible cupcakes with things like candy and snack items - and a zipper lock
bag for the pastry cream or frosting. You really don't need any baking skills
or fancy pastry equipment, just time and a willingness to have fun!"
-- "The America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Book." "Besides offering more
than 700 great recipes, this cookbook is also loaded with easy tips for
varying and changing up recipes as well as color photos and tutorials, making
it an all-purpose choice for both the novice and the seasoned baker."
-- "Joy of Cooking" by Irma Rombauer. "This is really the 'bible of
American cooking.' Any popular tried-and-true American dish conceived of in
the last 50 years can be found in this cookbook. It's a kitchen staple and for
that reason, it's great all-around cookbook for new as well as the experienced
cook."
"Cookbooks make wonderful gifts because they provide a lifetime of
enjoyment -- and they almost become part of the family," said Clark. "What's
particularly great about most of these cookbooks is not only are they written
by some of the world's most talented cooks and chefs, but they also emphasize
fresh, flavorful ingredients -- which appeals to virtually all cooks. In
addition, the authors impart their incredible knowledge and expertise about
cooking in these books, which is something cooks at all experience levels
love, and most of the recipes are simple and straightforward enough that even
busy families can make and enjoy them!"
About Borders Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) is a
leading retailer of books, music and movies with more than 28,000 employees.
Through its subsidiaries, the company operates more than 1,100 stores
worldwide primarily under the Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) brand names and
recently launched Borders.com for online shopping. For more information, visit
www.borders.com/aboutus
