Come and meet your favorite cookbook authors in New York

February 28, 2012 by Fiona

| 26 Comments

This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Melanie who wins the cookbook and to Monica B, Katya and Maryanne who are joining us at the IACP Culinary Expo. Can you all please email us at info@eatyourbooks.com with your email addresses.

Come and Join us in New York! This year's IACP conference is in New York, with some great food celebrities confirmed to attend.

The nominations for the 2012 IACP Cookbooks Awards are published and the winners will be announced on April 2nd. Eat Your Books is the sponsor of the General Cookbook award and we will be happy to hand the award to either Molly Stevens, Jacques Pépin or John Besh who are the nominees.

IACP Nominees for the Eat Your Books General Cookbook Award

On Sunday, April 1, as part of the conference, there is a Culinary Expo with over 100 exhibitors and a Book and Blog Festival which is expected to be the largest gathering of cookbook authors, bloggers, editors and publishers in North America. Eat Your Books has 5 tickets to give away to this event, so if you're in the area and would like to attend (and meet Jane and Fiona), enter our IACP competition.

Tell us who you think should win the Cookbook of the Year from the 2012 nominations. It can be any book on this list.
An alternate prize if you're not in NYC is your choice of IACP nominated books (excluding Modernist Cuisine!)
Mention in your comment if you are only entering for the cookbook prize.

We'll let the winners know by March 16th.

Category: What's New on EYB, Book News

26 Comments

Christine K. on 2/29/2012 at 9:21 AM

I think John Besh's My Family Table should win cookbook of the year because I think the most important thing about food and cooking is sharing it with the people you love. I wouldn't be able to make it to NYC that day, but what a cool giveaway! I'll just enter for the cookbook prize then, and I'd choose "Fine Cooking in Season: Your Guide to Choosing and Preparing the Season's Best"
Alice Brody on 2/29/2012 at 10:04 AM

Love the Jacques Pepin, interesting, clear and well researched as always. He's my choice.
Alayne C on 2/29/2012 at 10:39 AM

I would definitely pick Molly Stevens' All About Roasting. It's very informative, well-researched and has wonderful recipes. Molly does an excellent job of explaining all the intricacies of roasting in a manner that's easy to understand. I recently took a class with her, and Molly is an incredible teacher. All About Roasting is definitely the cookbook of the year! As much as I would love to come to NYC, I'm entering for the cookbook prize only.
Kevin C on 2/29/2012 at 5:36 PM

I've only flipped through these at the bookstore, but I'd choose John Besh's book to take home, so that's my vote! I can't make it to NYC for IACP unfortunately... so if I win I'd like a copy of Bitters instead!
Monica B on 2/29/2012 at 7:02 PM

Ms. Traverso's The Apple Lover's Cookbook is a delightful addition to my cookbook shelf. I nominate it. She profiles many different apples and gives specific guidance on which ones are suitable in a recipe. I'm in NYC and would love to attend the Culinary Expo!
EBM on 2/29/2012 at 7:56 PM

I second Monica B... but for the actual nominees, would love to see John Besh win this one. Such a beautiful book!
Trisha on 2/29/2012 at 9:17 PM

Essential Pepin was an instant classic and I hope it wins. I'm only entering for the cookbook prize, and I'd love Ancient Grains for Modern Meals.
Annie G on 2/29/2012 at 11:40 PM

I think John Besh should win - family twist on New Orleans and Cajun favorites. And I'm only entering for the cook book prize.
Melanie on 3/1/2012 at 1:21 AM

I think that Ottolenghi's Plenty should win. It's an inspiring book filled with everything from fresh tastes to comfort food - some of the recipes do seem like too much work but the results definitely make it worthwhile. The recipes are also easy to adapt for weeknight dinners. Unfortunately I can't make it to NYC so I'm only in for the cookbook prize. I'd love to explore Home Cooking with Jean-Georges.
Katya on 3/1/2012 at 9:07 AM

Modernist Cuisine definitely did the most to change ideas of what a cookbook could even be...I remain fascinated with it. Of the three above, sight unseen, I'd probably go for Pepin. Nothing wrong with the classic. (I live in Brooklyn and would LOVE to attend IACP.
wester on 3/1/2012 at 9:18 AM

I think Odd Bits should win, as I love what Jennifer McLagan does with neglected and underestimated parts of the animal. I'm only in for the cookbook prize - flying in from Europe would be a bit too expensive ;-)
Amy on 3/1/2012 at 9:36 AM

Pepin's book is a new classic. I especially love his illustrations!
Maryanne on 3/1/2012 at 10:30 AM

Although I love Spain by Claudia Roden I think Modernist Cuisine deserves cookbook of the year. (or century?) It's a monumental contribution based on scientific principles which raises the bar for the entire culinary field. I will be in NYC and I would love to attend the event. Thank you!
Suellen Kolbo on 3/1/2012 at 3:11 PM

Jacques Pepin's cookbook is so full of classic cheffie-stuff, yet he credits his mother and grandmother a lot. Good Man! I appreciate the thriftiness aspect also. I read an article in the NYTimes by his editor that they argued about eliminating any of the 2500 recipes he had submitted. What remained is an encyclopedia of great food. Can't make it to New York, but have the Apple book on my wishlist at Amazon. Wonderful to win that one.
kerrie mcgovan on 3/1/2012 at 11:18 PM

Without a doubt my top pick is Plenty, with Ancient Grains for Modern Meals my runner up. Why Plenty? Innovative without being tricksy, a fabulous balance of recipe styles, ingredients and techniques. A personal book. Yotam's voice is there... a nod to the Middle East, and Europe without being exclusive to a region. Clear instruction, well laid out, and a gorgeously useable index! Everything one wants in a friend ~ vibrant, interesting, handsome, culturally well rounded, serious but with a lighter side when the occasion calls for it. This book will become your friend if you let it, and the fact that it's vegetarian is neither here nor there. Some of our best friends are! Much as I'd love to be in NYC for the awards, I'd settle happily for a new book. Winter is coming in Australia. Something to curl up with would be just fine by me. www.eatingyear.blogspot.com.au
Helene L on 3/2/2012 at 11:53 AM

I would nominate Jaques Pepin, His recipes are very easy to understand and delicious. i love the CD that came with the book
Heather Schnurr (okcook) on 3/2/2012 at 4:35 PM

Modernist Cuisine has my vote for cookbook of the year. Although many of the recipes are beyond what the average home cook can muster up at the end of the work day, it is inspirational in terms of the shear amount of information about food and processing it. I can't make it to NY but would love to win the cookbook Plenty. Thank you.
Cindy Coddington on 3/4/2012 at 11:23 AM

I vote for Plenty. This vegetarian cookbook has creative and very delicioius recipes.
Carrie on 3/6/2012 at 4:22 PM

Plenty gets my vote though Ancient Grains for Modern Meals is a close second. I can't make it to NYC, but would love to win Good Fish.
Maryjo on 3/7/2012 at 3:12 PM

Plenty is by far the best cookbook I've read this year. I recommend it to people all the time. It's fantastic. I would love to be able to go to NYC for the weekend, but sadly I cannot. Please enter me for the cookbook instead!
Nancy Travers on 3/13/2012 at 11:01 AM

Definitely Pepin's - instant classic!
Ryan on 3/13/2012 at 3:21 PM

I think Homesick Texan is a great book. I like how it shows the fusion between traditional cookbook publishing and new media with a blogger. I am not in the NYC area and would be super happy to add another book to my ever growing cookbook libr... Errr I mean guest bedroom, haha! :)
Norene Gilletz on 3/13/2012 at 3:28 PM

My vote goes to Jacques Pepin for "Essential Cuisine." Jacques was my first cooking teacher and inspired me to pursue a culinary career. He simplifies the most complicated recipes, making them an essential part of your culinary repertoire!
Amanda on 3/13/2012 at 5:09 PM

Being here in Australia, I probably won't make it to NYC, unfortunately. However, I'd love to see our own very talented Christine Manfield take out a prize for her beautiful book "Tasting India".
Sheri on 3/14/2012 at 7:04 AM

Plenty is fantastic.
Jane on 3/15/2012 at 11:38 PM

This contest is now closed. Please see names of winners at top of post.