Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook

If anyone knows me they know that my favorite show in the history of television is...`The Sopranos', but my favorite REALITY show in the history of reality T.V. is `Top Chef'. I love to cook, I mean truly LOVE it. There is no place I'd rather be than a kitchen (well, I won't totally exaggerate, but you get the idea).If only I had the time and money to put myself through culinary school!Alas, I can only dream, and this show helps me dream BIGGER. It influences me and urges me with each intricately conceived dish to push myself even more, expand my personal taste and grow as a chef myself. Okay, so I'm not a chef, but try and tell my friends and family that!So, that brings me to the second `Top Chef' cookbook, `The Quickfire Cookbook'. I'm a fan of the quickfire challenges on the show, for it really gets down and showcases the chefs ability to adapt on command. You have time restraints and limited ingredient selection or themes you need to work within and you have to make it pristine and polished. Using these challenges for this cookbook was a great idea, and I'm almost tempted to say that this cookbook is, overall, better than the one that preceded it.Okay, I'm not tempted too...I'm saying it. This one is better!Just like the first in the series, this is so much more than a simple cookbook. For any fan of the show, this is a MUST HAVE item. With bios on every contestant (cheftestant) from the first 5 seasons, as well as trivia, back-stories on the show itself, quizzes and fun exercises, this is the ultimate cookbook (and a pretty showpiece at that). Oh yeah, and the recipes are great here. So, I haven't prepared everything (that'll take a while) and I rarely follow a recipe to the T since I'm all about improvising and using other recipes or ideas as mere inspiration for my own style, but I have cooked quite a few of these in one way shape or form.So, some suggestions:C.J.'s Seafood-Cauliflower-Pepper Salad (found on page 69) is phenomenal. I personally went with shrimp over crayfish, but that is just a personal preference. Spike's Sensual Beef Salad (found on page 91) is also superb, just don't overdo it on the cilantro, unless you really like that flavor (I don't). These two salads are great and easy dishes, and they are fun to play with. They are salads yet they have a lot more bite than you usual. Speaking of easy, Mia's Bean Salad (found on page 87) is the easiest dish I've made from this book (everything is basically found in a can) but when you serve this under a pork tenderloin it becomes exquisite, seriously.And I am determined to master Joey's Scallops with Jasmine Rice Risotto (found on page 125). Okay, so I got the scallop part down (YUM) but risotto is my Achilles Heal!So, I totally recommend this book. It's fun, vibrant, entertaining and informative. The recipes range from simple to intricate, but most importantly they all taste really good (or at least the ones I've tried). The pictures are mouth watering, the instructions are fairly easy to follow, and while you may not be able to find every ingredient you need at Wall-Mart, this is the type of book designed to expand your horizons and wrestle out the culinary god (or goddess) in us all.Oh, and a minor factual error in the book, it was Andrew, NOT SPIKE, who coined the term `culinary boner'.

Book in good condition, which is important. Love the recopies. Would purchase again from this seller

The recipes look incredible, and its all your favorites from the best quickfires. That said...there's not much chance that you have the skill to make these recipes, and the directions can be a bit vague. It would ahve been helpful to offer replacements for professional cooking techniques, such as souis vide.

Aside from some spelling errors, great book! Would recommend to anyone because it's a good mix of recipes and recap of cheftestants, winners, and where they are now.

Paid full price for a "new" book that was 100% USED. Had stains on the front.I'll still use it, just mad I paid top dollar.

If you love Top Chef like I do,you are going to want this cook book.I watch the show and go how did they make that?Well now I know and I can't wait to start trying some of the recipes.I would also suggest you buy the first Top Chef cook book it is just as good.I hope you all enjoy and keep watching the show!!!!

This book, much like other Top Chef books is just as detailed and wonderful. There are some recipes that are more reasonable to make, but lots of ingredients in each one which makes it top chef worthy. Not for the person who just wants to get through a recipe. Food lovers should have this book!

The book is great! However, the front was smudged with black marks. It did not look new. :( I'm glad this was not a gift and was only for myself.

I'm a big fan of "Top Chef" and am always curious about their concoctions. In purchasing this book, I was really looking forward to new ideas and LOTS of recipes. I was disappointed to find that a good portion of the book was dedicated to a "fan focus", with pages of info showing like a fan magazine. Disappointing for me, but if you're into that - you'll be happy with what you get.

Fast, prompt delivery. I am already enjoying cooking some recipes out of the book. Will buy again from seller if need anything else very pleased!

I haven't been able to put it down.