Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking

You’ve probably been hearing all about the series of books by Nathan Myhrvold (and co): Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking. Over three years, and a super equipped team went into the making of this book, testing cooking techniques and theories on the most scientific level. I recently attended a lecture with Nathan, hosted by Padma Lakshmi, at the National Academy of Science, across from the WTC site. Unfortunately, I ended up going a few stops into Brooklyn on the N train, so missed the beginning of the standing-room-only lecture. Fortunately, I did not miss the sample of the pistachio ice cream which was made without any dairy, using only the oils from the nuts themselves to create an ultra-nutty tasting treat. The 6 book set explores the topics of food safety, baking, braising, stewing, grilling, barbecuing, roasting, frying. The photos, alone, are enough reason to purchase the set, which feature appliances cut in half, to show the cooking within, food ballistics, and beautifully lit step shots. The set retails for $675, but is available on back order at Amazon for around $465. Check out the in-depth review at the New Yorker.