This is the TEXT book for the CIA. I have used The Professional Chef to increase my skill level tremendously. I am not a chef, but I am a pretty-damned-good cook.
I found the background information indispensable when creating my recipes and fixing others.
Only buy The Professional Chef if you are DEAD SERIOUS about food preparation.
This is a culinary school textbook, not a cookbook
Billing itself as THE text book of one of THE top culinary schools in America, I had high expectations when I plunked down $40+ dollars for it ... expectations that were only partially met.
The most important thing to remember about The Professional Chef is that it's a TEXTBOOK, not a cook book. Granted, the material is about food and cooking, yes, but if you buy it with the expectation of finding out the best and tastiest ways to make a given classic recipe, you're going to be sorely disappointed.
Why ?
The Professional Chef is basically overview material on a wide variety of ingredient and food preparation related subjects.
You'll see, for instance, a picture of what carrots look like when they've been chopped, ... Read More
Five Stars Hands Down!
I have several cookbooks and textbooks that I refer to on the daily basis and this is one of the most informative and useful texts that I have ever purchased. The only book that I use more then this one is The Professional Chef, Eighth Edition! The recipes are outstanding!
Nasir, Executive Chef
Comprehsensive Work!
At the risk of simply repeating, at length, the sentiments expressed in earlier reviews, I'll be brief...
This is an amazingly comprehensive work that covers seemingly every facet of professional cooking. The book is arranged nicely and follows a logical progression.
In buying The Professional Chef I was looking for something that could speak to cooking technique in such a way as to improve my cooking KNOWLEDGE, vice a simple book of recipes. The Professional Chef has unlocked a good deal of creativity in me, in that now that I understand the principles that govern how certain types of food behave, I can get on with making up some of my own stuff.
The only word of caution I can provide is that the recipes inside usually make enough ... Read More
A must for one who wants to devote himself in the culinary field!!!
I have read the book thoroughly & found that this "Modern Bible of Kitchen" is for one who wants to excel in culinary techniques & should try to possess this scripture....I finished The Professional Chef within a week i bought it & go through The Professional Chef religiously on a daily basis as i myself would like to pursue a career in the Kitchen...
hats off to the authors n CIA of course for this marvellous publication...
Wish u good luck CIA,
Gaurav
