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All the Hazan cookbooks (I have Marcella's Cucina, both Classic and the first one, her Italian Kitchen; Bugiali's comprehensive tome, Giuliano Hazan's wonderful pasta cookbook, James Beard's American Cooking, Olney's Simple French Cooking.

I would have to go with either the first Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (her bbq sauce and her scones are always hits around here), Bold American Food by Bobby Flay (his sauces) and The Silver Palate Cookbook (their recipe for Spaghetti with Oil & Garlic has been used more than anything else in there). I just adore the flavor of the chicken broth in that recipe! So creative.

Two cookbooks from Margaret Fox, the Cafe Beaujolais Cb and Morning Food are certainly among the worst-looking. I have bought multiple copies of each as gifts, and when I am sure they won't be returned for store credit, I copy my own notes on each recipe into them. The first two Silver Palates are also valuable, but I found nothing but disaster in the recipes I tried from New Basics so sent that one a-packing. I have three and a half tall bookcases full, plus more stacked nearby, and there are probably too many that I only use one recipe from. But some books are too much fun to re-read to send off to the Book Fair.

Lately, I've been bespattering "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone", Deborah Madison, too but I also like to read the late Laurie Colwin's "Home Cooking" and "More Home Cooking". Her enthusiasm and quirkiness are infectious and there are many easy, practical and delicious recipes in both volumes. Katherine Hepburn's "Brownies" are exceptional! I use Joy of Cooking's "Know Your Ingredients" chapter for weights, substitutions, etc. These pages are fused together. The first cookbook I used is "Three Meals A Day", Jessie Read, Musson Publishing, Toronto:1946. I love its post-war economies, its basic recipes, my grandmother's entries on the blank pages and entries I made as an eleven year old learning to cook. I have TOO many favourite cookbooks - I collect cookbooks but I also use them.

I have to say Betty Crocker. It has been the "ole" stand by for many years
(I hate to say how many years). It's basic, but that's what I like about it, nothing fancy just old fashioned comfort food. I have altered many recipes to suit todays lifestyle, lower in fats etc. and use it more as a reference. I have collected cook books for 40+ years. Joy of Cooking being one but I have always loved local cookbooks, garden clubs, Junior League and several restaurant cookbooks. I love cajun cooking and "Don's seafood and steak house" is one of the best and I must say it finally bit the dust and I had to break down and buy a new one. Betty's binding is loose and a bit floopy ( but then, so am I ) but I don't need to replace her yet !

For me, Mastering the Art of French Cooking Volume 1 has nearly come apart at the seems, and Rick Stein's English Fish Cookery and Simon Hopkinson's Roast Chicken and Other Stories, Gammon and Spinach and The Prawn Cocktail Years are positively soggy by now. Marcella Hazan also suffers at my hands...... And the Moro books, partricularly Volume 2, with their practical North African dishes. I am, of course, writing from the UK so some of these will not be relevant in the US so much. I have also recently started cooking from the super "Simple Indian" by Atul Kohchar - a chef who has a 2 Michelin starred restaurant in London where the dishes are extraordinary, with a lightness of touch and use of spices that is divine. That's getting stickier by the day.

My 3x5 recipe cards (that I started in junior high...and I'm in my 50's now) look like hell - dogeared, stained and fading. But they're family favorites, some passed down from my greatgrandmother.

Also, my Betty Crocker cookbook that I received as a wedding present back in 1979 is pitiful.

I've done some damage to my Giada DeLaurentis cookbooks as well as all of my Cooking Light compilation cookbooks.

Steve's Prince of Steaks up in the Northeast for cheesteaks,
Zorba's for amazing no frills Greek in the Fairmount section, right down the street from Eastern State where it is rumored Willie Sutton escaped from and went down the street to The London Grill for a pint while waiting to be re-arrested!
Wherever you go, it's Philly and it's hard to go wrong!Enjoy

The White Dog Cafe in University City and Fork in Old City. Bangin' food.

Pat's or Gino's for cheesesteaks.

Reading Terminal Market or Di Bruno Brother's for shopping.

Morning Glory Diner or Creperie Beaumonde for breakfast.

Buddhakan (or any Steven Starr restaurant for that matter) for high end.

I am also hoping to get Jeffrey's fondue recipes...any news?

Try this:

Cheese Fondue

8 oz of shredded chedder cheese.
8 oz shredded emmental chesse.
1 garlic clove.
1 can of beer.
2 tablespoons of flour.
1 teaspoon of Salt.
Pinch of pepper.
French bread, diced into cubes.

Mix together all of the ingredients (except bread).

Melt the mixture and place into a fondue pot.

Dip the cubes of bread into the melted mixture and eat.

I third Capogiro -- I actually went there tonight. It's incredible.

I had pretty good gelato at the Espresso & Gelato Bar in the National Gallery of Art (East Building) in Washington, DC. They offer 16 flavors of gelato and a full espresso bar.