The New Food Lover's Tiptionary: More Than 6,000 Food and Drink Tips, Secrets, Shortcuts, and Other Things Cookbooks Never Tell You

I got this book for a present about six months ago and can't stop picking it up. I heard this author on the radio recently and she was just as engaging and informative talking about burgers as she was about wine-and all the info she discussed is in this book, so I figure it's a darn good deal. I've been cooking for a long time, but keep finding great info in The Food Lover's Tiptionary-whether for everyday cooking techniques (such as for subjects like corn, eggs, potatoes, tomatoes, etc.) or for tips for special event preparations (like how to handle caviar, or different ways to prepare risotto). There's even info on kitchenware and appliances-from knives to food processors. Love the "tidbits" at the beginning of almost every listing-little informational "bites" (history, etymology, etc.) that add so much to the subject. In short, LOVE this handy, easy-to-read, exceedingly informative book!

I've long been a fan of Sharon Tyler Herbst's books (have "The Ultimate A to Z Bar Guide," the "New Food Lover's Companion, the "Wine Lover's Companion" and "The Ultimate Guide to Pitcher Drinks"). So, when I recently received the new edition of her "Tiptionary" I eagerly started thumbing through it. This one's absolutely fabulous, and is also arranged in an easy A to Z format, which is one of the reasons I like this author's books so much! My new hubby's a hamburger fanatic (I'll convert him, yet;) so imagine my delight when I found over two pages of info on the subject. Now I cook his burgers just the way he likes them. Of course, I've found oodles of other subjects that make ME happy, like corn. The "Tiptionary" gave me dozens of hints on how to buy, store and cook it, and it has a super recipe for "Grilled Corn Off the Cob," which my spouse loves! And that brings me to another favorite feature of this book--it has dozens of short recipes scattered throughout. Not to mention that it tells you what to do with leftovers of whatever food you're looking up. Add to that loads of charts (temperature, measurements, pan sizes, pasta sizes, etc.), and you've got a book that every cook should have. Thank you, Sharon Tyler Herbst, for another great one!

I got this book because I love one of this author's other indispensable books, the New Food Lover's Companion. Whereas I use the latter for everything from good conversation fodder to look up menu terms, the Tiptionary, for me, a "cook's" book, tailor-made for those who love to cook. On the other hand, I think it would be great for people who don't love to cook, as it shows you how to navigate through almost any problem effortlessly. This Tiptionary has so many solutions for cooking questions big and small. For example, I finally learned how to prepare artichokes correctly (the book even has the technique for eating them, although I knew that). Oh, and so much, much more. I highly recommend this book and wouldn't give it up for anything.

After completing my most recent cookbook, I ran across this excellent resource. While I consider myself to work mostly on instinct in the kitchen, it is fun to read that you were right all along. Yes, as my grandmother taught me - potatoes are easier to peel when hot. She always made me boil them in their jackets when making potato salad. I had also wondered why lentils sometimes stayed firm after being cooked for the same time as other recipes. The secret is on page 207 and an acidic ingredient is the culprit. From personal experience I knew that I should let a cake cool before frosting it but this could save someone a lot of melted icing if they just didn't think about it. Think of this book as your grandmothers wisdom all in one book. Sharon is truly an expert and has done her research. This book has helped me to realize why things work the way they do and has validated many of my own beliefs. It is an entertaining and education read - just take it by the Tablespoon...there is a wealth of information here. ~The Rebecca Review

This book by Sharon Tyler Herbst, author of another indispensible book, the Food Lover's Companion, is a cooks dream come true. It contains solutions for almost every problem you will encounter in the kitchen, from how to properly choose and prepare artichokes to how to fix burned stews and any other question or minor emergency you might encounter in the kitchen. I highly recommend this book.