The Book of Food

Alice Waters, founder of Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley and a leading proponent of fresh, local ingredients, says of The Book of Food: "Frances Bissell has . . . put together a guide to food unlike any other I know. Spread out before us is an enormous variety, sensibly organized, with helpful little essays with every entry. Interspersed throughout are delightful side bars that teach you some genuinely useful kitchen techniques."

"Perhaps best of all, there are many wonderful and tantalizing illustrations. Looking at the many kinds of seaweed, at thirteen different kinds of eggs in remarkable colors and sizes, or at a beautiful array of berries, you cannot help but be fascinated and curious. What must they taste like? Foods you may have seen and wondered about at the market are pictured, named, and placed in context. Some foods you probably have not seen are here, too, and her enthusiasm about them will make you wish you had."

"Frances Bissell is such a spirited cook. . . . With her guidance, you will gain a new understanding of pure and fresh ingredients, always the most essential part of good cooking."