The French Laundry Cookbook by Deborah Jones, Michael Ruhlman, Susie Heller, Thomas Keller (1999, Hardcover)

The French Laundry is the book filled with 150 recipes from Thomas Kellers Napa restaurant of the same name! This is no ordinary restaurant, but one, if noy the best in the United States, and its recent award of three Michelin Stars goes to prove just that!
But if Napa, or the extravagant prices are not easily within you reach; then this may just well be the next best thing as Keller shares some of his unique and award winning style with the at home cook!
This book is aesthetically beautiful - it is well presented with perfect photographic example of the meals you can make! It is a great gift for the keen cook and would look as good on display as it would in use! A word of cautio would be to photocopy any recipe you care to try, this book is both expensive and attractive - kitchens are never neat when work is being done and you would not want to compromise the quality of this masterpiece!
There are useful tips and techniques within these pages, which are needed as these recipes are not easy!! Remember that Keller is a world renowned chef, and he does this through work using high quality, often expensive and rare ingredients; cooked to perfection employing both various common and unique cooking methods - and then displayed with design and aesthetics in mind. The work is long, never easy and needs skill - this is for the more advanced cook!!
Also bear in mind that not all the ingredients may be accessible - there are mnay recipes we have never even attempted, as certain elements are impossible to come across. Understand too, that these dishes are expensive to make...but again, much cheaper than eating at the real thing!!
I give this book high marks for at addition to your library, but it drops a point or two as a useful cookbook - but there again, anyone who is a fan of keller and his work, will know just what to expect in this presentation!

Recently, my husband and I ate at the French Laundry in Yontville, Ca. Having had one of the most amazing dining experiences possible, it was truly a must to have the cookbook. The book is more than I could have anticipated. Not only does it have recipies for the cuisine served, but it reads like a novel about the French Laundry and its recipies. The photography is gorgeous. This winter, living in the midwest and having many cold days to fill, my plan is to try to execute a few of the incredible selections. This will truly be a challenge for my cullinary skills, and so looking forward to it!!