In 2011, a 36-person team organized by
former Microsoft chief technology officer and avid
foodie, Nathan Myhrvold, produced a
5-volume, 2,400 page cookbook called Modernist Cuisine. Weighing 45
pounds, the book(s) concerned itself as much with food science as
with recipes. There was a great deal of skepticism when it was
published - just who would buy it?
The Wall Street Journal
was especially curious so they tracked down the statistics.
Worldwide, 45,000 copies have been purchased and the book has been
translated into French, German, and Spanish; that's about
$20,000,000 in sales. And that begs another question, are there any
more volumes coming out? Well, apparently this version did not
contain anything on baking or pastry, so it's a pretty good bet
that we haven't heard the last from Mr. Myhrvold and his crew.
