The kitchenware book - Hardcover

Ettlinger, Steve

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 076072332X ISBN 13: 9780760723326

Publisher: Barnes & Noble Books, 2001

Synopsis

The third book in Steve Ettlinger's series of illustrated consumer guides which includes "Garden Centers and Hardware Stores", "The Kitchenware Book" explains more than 700 items, almost all of which are illustrated, with descriptions, tips on what to buy and how to use them and whether an item is really useful or just for the pros. Ettlinger breaks the subject into four categories: preparation items like knives, mixers, measuring and grating tools; cooking items such as pots, pans and ovenware; beverage and serving items for everything from coffee and tea to mixed drinks; and, finally, kitchen accessories including cleaning tools, storage bins and kitchen kitsch. For the the most popular items like knives and pots and pans, there are detailed introductions discussing their construction, advice on what to look for when buying them and explanations of all the high-tech materials they're made from, like forged high carbon steel or Teflon. Whether Ettlinger is explaining the difference between a spatula and a turner, describing the different types of whisks, or explaining why an egg lifter and a spaghetti fork are basically the same, "The Kitchenware Book" aims to be everything any cook would need to know to make sense of the dizzying array of kitchenware available.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly

Kitchenware ranges from the collectible spurdle (a long, flat wooden tool for stirring) to the merely functional modern bread machine. But just about every gizmo and gewgaw makes an appearance in this book by Ettlinger ( The Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores ). With its 700 entries and 600-plus illustrations, The Kitchenware Book is clearly intended to serve as a reference. As the introduction proclaims, "Cooking meals is a well-defined process, and this book is organized to follow that process logically." Each gadget is assigned to one of four major sections: preparation, cooking, beverage/garnish/serving or kitchen accessories. This seems simple enough--but the textual organization is not so very logical. Woe to the reader who wants to identify the gadgets needed to make pasta at home. A wooden pasta drying rack is categorized as a "stove-top cooking accessory," while a pasta machine is listed under the "mashing and pressing utensils." Moreover, the table of contents offers few clues or cross-references to aid in finding items. And so, like a mysterious fork, the book can be frustrating to use, despite its obvious assets.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

With the help of research consultant Irena Chalmers, Ettlinger, the author of The Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Garden Centers (Macmillan, 1990) , now turns to cookware. He describes and explains the functions of more kitchen equipment and utensils than most people have ever seen. Some are of interest only to professionals, some can make the home cook's life easier, and some (like a citrus slicing guide) are of questionable value to anyone. Ettlinger sometimes includes evaluations in his buying tips but seems reluctant to dismiss relatively nonessential items. Nevertheless, his book covers several hundred more items than Fred Bridge and Jean Tibbett's The Well-Tooled Kitchen ( LJ 12/90), making it a good companion to theirs. For most reference collections.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Barnes & Noble Books
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 076072332X
• ISBN 13: 9780760723326
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 466