I do admit that I have more then a few things that I obsess over, but the two biggest may be anything French and Cookbooks. Thankfully these two work together into one larger obsession as well. When it comes to French cookbooks I may have just about every one of them, english or in french its a given that I must have them. But there are some that are my go-tos and turn to time and time again.
The other day I was at a local Barnes and Noble and of course a trip down the cookbook aisle was on the list. There was a nice gentleman looking at the French cookbooks (all 7 or 8 that they have) and looked a little lost, so I offered my help to him. I asked him if he needed any help picking a good one and he said it was a gift for his wife who was interested in French cooking after seeing Julie & Julia. Of course I asked if she had the bible and of the best books ever, Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and he thought it would be to hard to start with for her. I hear that a lot actually and explained to him that while there are some more advanced recipes in there the basics and beginning of almost all cooking was in there and she should not be afraid and even if she wouldn't use it today after a little practice she will love it.
So to start my list of the 5 best French Cookbooks, the queen bee is at the top. Julia Child should be on every shelf and thanks to Julie and Julia the movie it is beginning too. My copy is from years ago but I was very excited when my grandmother found her 2nd edition of vol. 1 and a first edition of vol 2 and gave them to me. Those stay on the shelf to avoid any splatter of Beouf Bourguignon or Hollandaise. Everything you would ever want is in these books, make your own mayonnaise or baguettes to boning and stuffing a duck.
Next on the list is one of my favorites that has come in handy when researching the Tour de French Cuisine, Anne Willan's The Country Cooking of France is amazing and this book is amazing as well. Even if you don't cook out of it, sit down and flip through it and read all about the regions of France and their specialties and local attractions complete with amazing pictures. But the recipes are fantastic as well, a favorite is the asparagus with a tarragon mushroom cream sauce, it sounds heavy but is light and tasty.
My affection for Anthony Bourdain is not something I hide well, I love him and if you love him this book is for you. He is classically French trained and for years was the chef at the French restaurant Les Halles in New York City. This book is filled with classic French dishes but then sprinkled with the wit of Anthony Bourdain, close your eyes as you read it and you can hear him (complete with some 4-letter words) His escargot and salade nicoise are authentic and out of this world!
A new to the United States is the I Know How to Cook by the French author Ginette Mathiot. She was to France what Julia was to America. Je Sais Cuisiner was first published in France in 1932 and could be found on every shelf in France. With over 1400 recipes just about every classic French dish can be found from Croque Monsieur to Cassoulet.
And if there is one book you need to look up just about anything cooking related, this is the big daddy of them all. Now in a updated version just out this last year it has been in production since 1938. I actually don't have the newer version, I like my old 1964 version. Even Julia Child once said "If I were allowed only one reference book in my library, Larousse Gastronomique would be it, without question." Do you need more than that?