Readers Respond: What's Your Favorite Celebrity Chef Cookbook?

It seems like every celebrity chef these days has a cookbook on the market. Some are destined to become much-consulted kitchen resources, others likely will end up gathering dust after a quick perusal. If you have a favorite cookbook by a celebrity chef or food personality, tell us about it, and why you find it so useful.

Whether or not you have a favorite, check out the latest crop of cookbooks from celebrity chefs, hitting bookshelves in Fall 2009.

Ina Garten

So many celebrity chefs have different goals. One wants to entertain, another wants to teach. Ina Garten just wants to feed you. And the proof is in the delicious things that I have made, inspired by watching her.

—Guest christina harlan

Ruhlman's Ratio!

"Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking" I still need to get my own copy, (i've gone through my cousin's copy) but this is a great idea for a cookbook.

—Guest John

It's the Deen Boys Everytime

I've got to choose my fellow Georgia natives. They don't quite use as much butter as Mama, but still worth it.

—Guest CarrollPellegrinelli

nope

I honestly don't have a favorite celebrity chef cookbook - I'm not even sure I own any (I'd have to look, does Hazan count?). The books I reference most often are McGees "On Food and Cooking" and lately Ruhlman's "Ratios." Thinking about it, it occurs to me there's a difference between a "celebrity" chef and a "celebrated" chef. People like Emeril Lagasse, Rachel Ray, and Tyler Florence are celebrities not because of their food but because of their personalities. In general their food is trite. On the other hand, chefs such as Thomas Keller, Grant Achatz, and Daniel Bolud are celebrated because nothing they do is trite.

—Guest Kevin C42

Alton Brown

While a lot of these chefs have great food, much of it is what I want to eat, not cook. I don't think I could ever duplicate one of Michael Symon's recipes, for example. But Alton Brown gives me insight into the whys behind what I cook and in the process, has taught me a lot. Very few of his recipes fail, and most are quite tasty.

—KidsCookingAdmin