Kitchen Essentials: The Complete Illustrated Reference to the Ingredients, Equipment, Terms, and Techniques Used by Le Cordon Bleu

This book is very informative. Everyone should have this book in their kitchen. This book has useful information for any type of chef. If you're a novice chef, or if you're an expert chef, this book is for you. Definitely worth the purchase. I've even stocked one in my sister's bridal shower gift :)

I've been looking for this book for ages although I didn't know it until I found it! It tells you all the basic information about nearly every possible ingredient and some basic prep info on most--how to truss poultry, scale fish, serve duck, cut and steam fruits and veggies, etc.. Also included is info about herbs and spices, different salad greens, oils, vinegars. So complete! It makes cooking seem very simple and has enabled me to experiment with confidence. And it's *beautifully* presented in full color--someone else said it could be a coffee table book and that person is absolutely right. My friends have been known to start paging through it if I leave it out. The only thing that might improve it is if there were a few actual recipes to try out--those who are looking for recipes will be disappointed as what Kitchen Essentials offers are more guidelines than recipes. I'm hoping that Le Cordon Bleu has or will put out a regular cookbook that will complement this wonderful book.

This book is a very useful reference; it tells you everything from how to tell when a tomato is perfect for eating to how to select a knife that will cut it perfectly. It is also stuning - it could be a coffee table book.

Kitchen Essentials is a compendium of culinary instruction and creations from the famed French cooking school with detailed information on ingredients, equipment, terms, and techniques utilized by their instructor chefs. Wonderfully illustrated throughout with full-color photography, Kitchen Essentials is a superbly presented, very highly recommended, single volume course for elegant cooking that covers fish and shellfish, meats, poultry and game, dairy products, bean and grains, vegetables (including seaweed and sea vegetables), fruits and nuts, and flavorings (including pantry extras, sweeteners, chocolate, coffee and teas).

This is an essential reference book. If you're expecting to review recipes this is not the book for you. Many preparation techniques for poultry, meat, fish, etc. Also a great index of vegetables!