Event Photos: Ted Reader's Burgers!

Post and Photos by Gina

We thought we'd share some pictures from Ted Reader's grill-tastic appearance at the store a few weeks ago. He was here in promotion of his newest book Napoleon's Everyday Gourmet Burgers ($27.95 - and yes, we still have some signed copies!), and was grilling up a storm on his HUGE rig.

Three grill rig with a built in smoker!

King of the 'Q

 Mini Carolina Pulled-Pork Burgers with Mustard Slaw

Here is Ted's lovely and talented assistant planking some mini Super Thick and Cheesy Burgers (my fave for the day!)

One last shot of the whole monster grill.

PS- We're raffling off a portable Napoleon Gas Grill in the store - come in soon to enter!

Friday Lunch: Falafel House

Posted by Jennifer and Gina

Christmas is the time of year when we are so busy that it is a shock to remember at 4:00 pm that we have not yet had lunch. By then, what you actually eat is less important than just feeling full.

When full is what you are looking for, any one of the holes-in-the-wall selling falafel along Yonge Street, south of Bloor, has the solution. This time we choose Falafel House. We take the edge off our hunger with Bourekas. These avoid the usual problem of bitterness that the spinach/cheese filled triangular pastries frequently have. Instead the peppery stuffing is undermined by soggy pastry, somewhat redeemed by a crunchy sprinkle of sesame seeds. Though fairly standard, the falafel is less greasy than usual. The hot sauce on this is piquant rather than taste-bud numbing.

The moussaka daily special is a carb-lover’s heaven. Not only is there a generous side of saffron rice, there is potato, too, albeit rather dried out. From a choice of three salads, we choose a fresher than expected lemony chickpea salad. On the other hand, the cylindrical and surprisingly hollow baklava is stale.

Though perhaps a little fresher and less greasy, it is not the food that separates Falafel House from its neighbours. Instead, it is the warm service and a genuine effort to explain different dishes to new customers which makes it stand out from the dozens of similar establishments.

The total cost for food and tax: $15.63.

Thomas Keller: A Study in Efficiency

Posted by Gina

Where were all of Toronto's chefs last night? Not in their individual kitchens sweating over the hob, but rather sitting elbow to elbow at the Toronto Reference Library.  Chef Thomas Keller was on the premises in promotion of his new book Ad Hoc at Home, and was interviewed by our own Alison Fryer.

Tickets to the event included a signed copy of the new book, and with a sold out room, plus extra copies for sale at the event, Chef Keller managed to sign 700 books in an hour! And as would be expected from the man who turns raw produce into perfect works of gastronomic art, each signature was executed with with elegant penmanship and a beautiful calligraphy markers - no Sharpies for this chef!

Here are some pics of the signing in action. Enjoy!

Awaiting Keller

Signature Merry-Go-Round

Faster and Faster!

The signature.

[L-R] Alison, Thomas Keller & Jennifer

A Haunted Happening

Posted by Gina

BOO!

Join us at the store on Saturday, October 31st (that's right, Hallowe'en!) from 2:00 to 4:00 pm for a ghoulish gathering. Feel free to drop in anytime and share with us your favourite Halloween stories, treats and customs.

We will be all decked out, sampling a selection of spooky and delicious Halloween treats from a number of different cookbooks. 

Hallowe'en appropriate dress is welcome and encouraged! And don't forget to bring your little trick or treaters along -- human or otherwise!

APPLE DAY/NUIT BLANCHE

Posted by Gina

COME ONE! COME ALL!

Join us tomorrow starting at 2pm with Chef JP Challet (One Pot French) to kick start our Apple Day!

The fun continues with apple treats and tastings, curtosey of Siloam Orchards and The Cookbook Store staff, throughout the afternoon and evening.

At 7 PM ElectroCurrent's jazzy performance takes place! And the apple festivities continue into the evening, along with a movie screening on the north side of our building!

Hope to see you all there!

NB: Due to drizzly conditions the screening is moved inside Crepes-A-Go-Go, across the street.

Bitten: Meringues

Posted by Jennifer

Meringues are perennially seductive, their billowiness promising the experience of biting into a cloud. Alas, so often they disappoint. Too hard. Too weepy. Too sweet. Not puffy enough. There are so many ways to fail with meringue.

Co-worker Gina, a recent graduate of the baking certificate programme at George Brown College not only followed the Ottolenghi cinnamon hazelnut meringue recipe to perfection, she shared! Crispy on the outside, marshmallowy on the inside, they were the ultimate meringue. How to top this triumph? Perhaps the pistachio rosewater variation.

Photo by Gina

Julie & Julia - Movie Review

Posted by Gina

Many customers at the store have been excited to see our book display in preparation for the upcoming movie Julie & Julia. I was lucky enough to catch an advance screening of the film and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the experience.

Screenwriter and director Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seatle, When Harry Met Sally) skillfully combines blogger Julie Powells’s first book with Julia Child’s memoir, My Life in France. The book Julie & Julia is about Ms. Powell’s experience cooking her way through Mrs. Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1, while My Life in France documents the years in which Julia Child initially learned to cook, developed her insatiable passion for French food, and laboured to complete and publish the same book on which Powell focuses.

The story seamlessly bounces back and forth between New York circa 2003 and late 1940s Paris, documenting both Julie’s and Julia’s challenges, triumphs, sorrows and joys. As is usual for most book-to-screen adapatations, noticeable liberties are taken with both stories, but the spirit of each book is truly given justice. In fact, after having enjoyed each of these women’s memoirs, I would venture to say that the interlacing and juxtaposition of the two lives makes for an even more enjoyable experience than the two separately.

Amy Adams’ Julie Powell wins you over as a regular gal fighting her way through the challenges of French cookery (and is much less annoying than the trailer makes her appear). Meryl Streep is her usual phenomenal, chameleon-like self, portraying the excitable, unmistakable Julia Child, with a dead-on rendition of that marvelous warbling, sing song voice proclaiming to all, “Bon appetit!”

For a more in depth version of this review visit here.

Watch the trailer here.
Opens Friday, August 7th.

To Look Forward To:

Join us at the store on August 15 to celebrate what would have been Julia Child's 97th birthday. More details to follow.

also,

Julie Powell's second book, Cleaving: a Story of Marriage, Meat and Obsession about becoming a butcher is due out this November.

What We Eat When We Eat Alone

Posted by Gina


The arrival of Deborah Madison's new book What We Eat When We Eat Alone sparked lots of lively conversation among staff and customers at the store. The book is a collaboration between Deborah Madison and her husband Patrick McFarlin, who have been asking people this question for years. It consists of stories examining the title question with 100 accompanying recipes.

We decided to poll our staff and customers to find out what exactly we eat when we're alone. The most popular items consisted of eggs, bread, cheese and pasta... all delicious and filling comfort foods.

Award winning cookbook author, Jennifer McLagan said her solitary meal of choice is an "omlette and a glass (or two!) of wine".

Quebecois writer and Food Network star Ricardo Larrivée charmed us with his answer: "Have a bottle of water and wait for the wife to come home. If she's away more than a day [I] start to get anxious!"

Below is a selection of some of our favourite customer responses:

-charcuterie, cheese, olives & a bottle of wine :)
-Harbord Bakery blintzes
-steak & peas with red merlot
-rice pudding
-grilled cheese, apple
-take out
-Baskin-Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge ice cream
-goat cheddar broiled on Ezekiel bread with paprika
-zaatar mixture with bread dipped in olive oil
-Guinness
-cookies - lots of them!!
-pickled herring
-"I eat the best when I eat alone"
-pickles or anything with a a lot of garlic, and PRUNES
-sardines on toast
-popcorn with dill seasoning or truffle salt
-sour cream with egg noodles (and vodka)
-large slices of chocolate cake with extra icing
-can-alone-i
-street meat (hot dog)
-valrohna baking chocolate
-toast with cream cheese & pickles
-chicken fingers & brocolli
-leftovers

Our New Blog

Posted by Gina

Welcome to The Cookbook Store's new blog!

Here we will be chronicling our many adventures in the culinary world. Check back frequently for updates about our newest books, local food events and initiatives, discussions of food trends far and wide, and MORE.

Please drop by the store! We're located at 850 Yonge Street (at Yorkville) in Toronto. We can't wait to meet you!

To tide you over for now, here are some photos from some of our Spring 2009 events:

Ruth Reichl promoting her new memoir Not Becoming My Mother.

Laura Calder visited the store and signed copies of French Taste.

Ricardo and our manager, Alison.


Alison with Ted Reader grilling up some grub from his new book Everyday Gourmet Plank Grilling.