The Flavor Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg isn’t a traditional cookbook. Rather, it’s a book that helps you experiment and create new recipes. It explains that “Flavor = Taste + Mouthfeel + Aroma + The X Factor” and that “Great Cooking = Maximizing Flavor + Pleasure By Tapping Body + Heart + Mind + Spirit.” Of course, it explains what all of those things mean, for example “Mouthfeel” is the combination of temperature, texture, spiciness and astringency.
The majority of the book consists of a flavor chart. This chart tells you everything from when the item is in season to it’s weight to it’s flavor affinities. For example, under Beef – Steak: Rib Eye, cooking techniques listed are broil, grill, sauté and stir-fry and flavor affinities are garlic, mushrooms, olive oil, oregano, black pepper, red pepper flakes, rosemary and balsamic and red wine vinegar. If you don’t have the ingredients to cook your favorite dish handy, you can use this book to create a new dish with what you do have.
I would recommend this book to anyone who knows basic cooking techniques and is interested in experimenting and/or creating new recipes. Hachette Books is allowing me to give away 3 copies of this book. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO Boxes, please). I will use random.org to determine the winners. Contest ends at midnight EST, Friday, November 28, 2008. Winners will be announced on Saturday, November 29.
56 Comments
November 18, 2008 at 10:23 am
I’ve been drooling over this book! I’d love to win.
November 18, 2008 at 10:31 am
I would love this!
November 18, 2008 at 10:37 am
Please enter me!
November 18, 2008 at 10:52 am
Love to cook and I also have a 17 year old daughter who really likes to cook so it is time for me to start building her cookbook collection. (Because she can’t have mine!)
November 18, 2008 at 11:12 am
Your review is really good. I love to cook and I am always looking for new and different recipes. Can you please count me in on this giveaway.
cindysloveofbooksarc AT gmail DOT com
Thanks Kathy
November 18, 2008 at 11:19 am
I would love this. Please enter me.
November 18, 2008 at 11:37 am
This sounds like a great resource- please enter me!
November 18, 2008 at 11:59 am
This looks pretty awesome – I’m in! Thanks
November 18, 2008 at 12:11 pm
That book looks *fantastic*! I’m always looking for new “foodie” ideas and information.
November 18, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I would absolutely love this book! I’m in the process of learning how to cook and I love books focused more on the process rather than recipes.
I think “learning to cook” is really learning what flavors work well together and building on those flavors.
Sounds great!
November 18, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I love cooking, but I always need more inspiration, so I would love this book.
November 18, 2008 at 1:18 pm
No need to enter me (aargh!); I’ll be fair and buy a copy for the Tour Manager for his birthday.
I’m dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail letting us know you’re giving more books. We appreciate it more than we can tell you!
November 18, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Sounds interesting…please enter me. Thanks!
November 18, 2008 at 2:03 pm
That looks brilliant! Please enter me!
November 18, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I love to cook and hardly ever follow a recipe exactly. This sounds like the perfect cookbook to me!
November 18, 2008 at 2:50 pm
This book looks excellent- I would love to read it!!
November 18, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I Love to Cook! but to be honest I could use a little help. My daughters are just starting to really get into cooking and i’m getting Paula Deens first cook book for my youngest daughter for Christmas. I would love to win a copy of this!
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net
November 18, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Sound wonderful! Please enter me in the giveaway.
November 18, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Well you certainly know how to write a review to get our attention! Thanks fo the chance to win.
November 18, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Please enter me. This one looks really good.
November 18, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I’m always having to figure out how to cope with the sometimes odd assortment of veggies I get from my CSA and whatever else I have on hand. This looks like a great resource! Please enter me.
November 18, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I would like to be entered………………..
November 18, 2008 at 6:24 pm
The wonderful smells of those tastes!
November 18, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Hello, What a delightful cookbook! My husband loves to cook and he would enjoy this one. What a wonderful Christmas gift for him this would be.
Please enter me in your delightful “Flavor Bible” Cookbook. Many thanks…..Cindi
November 18, 2008 at 7:19 pm
This looks like a great book, and would be perfect for my “library” of food-related books.
November 18, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Enter me please. My stepfather is a gourmet cook while I an barely cook. Unfortunately my sister and I are pretty picky eaters.
November 18, 2008 at 7:40 pm
That sounds terrific, please add me! My husband does the cooking, but I’m the one who says, “Why don’t you try putting this and this together?” Sometimes I’m good at that and sometimes it’s a disaster. LOL
November 18, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Please enter me!
Great review Kathy, thank you.
-Bobbie
November 18, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I wouold love to win this for DH. He is so great in the kitchen and always looking for more things to try.
November 18, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I’ve heard wonderful things about this book and I’d love a chance to win it! I enjoy cooking and experimenting with new ideas and recipes so I think this would be a great book to read. Thanks!
November 18, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Awesome sounding book!
November 18, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Sweet! I would so love to be entered for this book – it looks wonderful. I definitely need some help when it comes to cooking.
Thank you!
November 18, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Enter me!
November 18, 2008 at 11:54 pm
This sounds like a great book! I’d like a chance to win it.
November 19, 2008 at 12:22 am
Any help I can get in the kitchen is a good thing. Sign me up!
November 19, 2008 at 12:35 am
Holy cats K! 35 entries already. My husband says I really need this one. lol So you have to enter me, please and thank you.
November 19, 2008 at 3:09 am
I’m ready to take my cooking skills to the next level!
November 19, 2008 at 9:03 am
You’ve whet my appitite! I’d love to have a copy of this book. Please enter me. Thanks for the chance.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
November 19, 2008 at 9:49 am
Oh I have the Pastry Bible and the Cake Bible, this one would be perfect to add to me collection!
Pick me
ruthiesbookreviews AT yahoo DOT com
November 19, 2008 at 10:56 am
I love to cook and am always looking for new ways to improve my skills in the kitchen. This sounds like a great book! I’d love to be entered. Thanks!
diaryofaneccentric[at]hotmail[dot]com
November 19, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I’d love to learn new ideas and techniques for experimenting and/or creating new recipes!
hawkes(at)citlink.net
November 19, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I’m working on expanding my cooking abilities, so this book would be a great help! Thanks for running this contest!
November 19, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I’d love to add this to my kitchen shelf!
November 19, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I would like the chance to win this! I do cook but I am in a rut. I need to find something that will add a little oomph to our meals!
November 19, 2008 at 8:17 pm
This book looks great. Spices certainly do make the difference in cooking, i find. Thanks for entering me.
November 19, 2008 at 9:29 pm
This one looks so interesting Kathy. I’ve been cooking more without recipes lately, when I’ve been cooking, which isn’t as often as I’d like. So no need to enter me, but someday I WILL check out this book! Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
November 19, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Me, me, me. I am always looking for ways to enhance my range by trying out new methods and ideas of cooking.
November 20, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Looks like a great book
November 20, 2008 at 5:58 pm
What a great concept for a book!
November 20, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I love to cook and I rarely follow recipes exactly (I like to experiment). I think this would be the perfect book to add to my collection! Thanks!
November 21, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I think this book would be the perfect addition to my cookbook library! I love experimenting with different ingredients and recipes. Thanks!
November 22, 2008 at 12:18 am
This sounds like a really handy reference book to have in the kitchen. Thanks for hosting this contest
November 22, 2008 at 4:15 am
I absolutely would love to own this book. I always end up adding a zillion spices and herbs trying to achieve the right flavor in my cooking and everything ends up tasting the same. I need help!
November 22, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Please enter me. I love even just reading cookbooks!
November 26, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Please enter me! I would love a chance to win. Thanks
November 28, 2008 at 7:41 am
I would love to have this book! Thank you for the chance to win it!
Carol M
mittens0831 At aol.com
Comments are closed.