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| Grand Livre de Cuisine: Alain Ducasse's Culinary Encyclopedia | 
 enlarge | Author: Alain Ducasse
Creators: Didier Elena, Franck Cerutti, Patrick Ogheard, Jean-francois Piege
Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang
Category: Book
List Price: $80.00
Buy New: $46.41
You Save: $33.59 (42%)
New (17) Used (8) from $40.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 135477
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 1080
Shipping Weight (lbs): 6
Dimensions (in): 9.7 x 7.9 x 2.5
ISBN: 2848440384
Dewey Decimal Number: 641
EAN: 9782848440385
ASIN: 2848440384
Publication Date: November 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Absolutely Brand New & In Stock. 100% 30-Day Money Back. Direct from our warehouse. Ships by USPS. 1+ million customers served-In business since 1986. Happy Customers is Our #1 Goal. Toll Free Support
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| Customer Reviews:
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 Interesting ideas but too many typos and mistranslations March 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This could have been a wonderful book. There are many exciting recipes, both in concept and execution. Alas, where some techniques are explained ad nauseam, as if to a five year old, others have no explanation at all. Fortunately the original French titles appear alongside the English versions and quantities are given in metric as well as American measurements. There are a number of errors in the English version. Of particular interest are the recipes for sous-vide cooking. But,even here,timing is often omitted. I shall use the book but it is a disappointment. I wish I had bought it in the original French although there is no guarantee that the editors were any more attentive to its production
 I wouldnt have known it was discounted if i hadnt bought it myself January 21, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
The book came quickly. It was packaged very well. The product was in excellent condition and I wouldnt know the difference beween a the book I recieved and one purchased at full price
Breathtaking recipes! January 5, 2008
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
A quotation from the Introduction, written by Jean-Francois Revel, of the Academie Francaise: "By imitating the masters, one cannot of course reach their level of perfection, but one often escapes the routine of one's own banality. You are going to discover the French art, one which has never been so alive, in the following pages. May then and from now on your dream, inspired by Alain Ducasse, direct your hands, as fallible as they may be!" Rather edgy, I think, but probably accurate.
First, this is a thousand page volume, genuinely a Culinary Encyclopedia, pulled together by a team of chefs under famed chef, Alain Ducasse. There are some wild elements to it, such as lobster recipes from page 422 through page 491 (almost 70 pages worth of lobster works!). Some nice features at the close of this volume: a glossary of terms, some basic recipes (consomme, stocks, jellies, juices, etc.), serving quantities associated with different dishes, and a seasonal table of meats, vegetables, fruits.
Second, though, it's the recipes that make this book fascinating. Here, I'll say it at the outset. There are some (many, even most) recipes here that I would never try. I'm too impatient and don't know all the skills needed for some of the dishes. Take, for example, Wild Roasted Hare Saddle. The process of preparation and cooking is complex--from cutting up the hare and reserving its lungs, kidneys, heart, etc. Next, each segment of the recipe is complex, with steps one does not usually experience, such as shredding the hare's shoulders with pliers. You create a sauce, with a first and a second thickener, plus a garnish for the finale. I imagine that this would be delicious when eaten, but I get exhausted looking at the process of preparation.
However, there are some recipes that seem like they are doable and would be fun and taste good. Acacia Blossom Fritters for one. You begin with a bunch of acacia flowers and then create a fritter batter Put the acacia flowers in the batter and fry in grapeseed oil. Looks tasty!
This is an absolutely massive volume, and even though many recipes won't get into my household's menus, they are enchanting to read. For one thing, I admire the work of the team that would put these dishes together in a restaurant. For another, it makes me appreciate more what goes into the work of a "starred" restaurant.
So, even though the bulk of these recipes don't fit my modus operandi of cooking, I will try some and will appreciate what goes into fine dishes more than I ever did before.
A Great and Professional Work January 3, 2008
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is actually much more useful than the original because it is a reasonable size and can be flipped through and really used. It is a tremendous resource because it explains exactly how the dishes are prepared in Ducasse's very serious and perfectionist restaurants with professional equipment, sous-vide, salamanders, etc. If you read French the small edition of the original is probably even more useful.
Grand Livre de Cuisine: Alain Ducasse's Culinary Encyclopedia (Hardcover) November 29, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
This book is the reprint of the bigger verson. It is a good book and also easier to carry around. The recipes are great. Its worthy to get it.
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