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89 of 90 found the following review helpful:
 Attractive intro to collectable cookware. Poor Translation May 17, 2006
By B. Marold
"Bruce W. Marold"
`Le Creuset Cookbook', written in French by Elisa Vergne and David Rathgeber, and translated into English by Josephine Bacon is all about cooking with the wares produced by the French cookware company, Le Creuset, which is possibly the most popular line of cookware used by professional chefs and serious foodie amateurs. I was really impressed with the relative importance of the Le Creuset casseroles and Dutch ovens especially when every single show on the Food Network used Le Creuset products. At first, I thought it was just because the enameled insides of the big Dutch ovens were white, so it was easier to see on camera what was happening in the pot. I promptly got several pieces and became immediately addicted to using the 8 quart Dutch ovens and the great brasserie dishes (covered, shallow braising pans).
For many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that this is an attractively designed book for a reasonable less than $20 list price, I would be inclined to give this book five (5) stars, were it not for the fact that the translation into English or the editing of that translation (probably both) are quite poor for a professionally published book, not done by a vanity press. These problems are of at least three types. First, there are outright misspellings. I found several, and I suspect there are several more I did not detect. Second, there are garbled explanations of techniques for some dishes. One, in particular, was the description of how to create a stuffed cabbage dish, which, for the life of me, I could not follow, in spite of the fact that the picture and the overall description of the dish made it one I would very much like to make. Third was the use of ingredient names that were vague or plainly unfamiliar to the average American cook. For example, one recipe calls for `spice mix', with no clue as to what should be in the spice mix. It would be a small tragedy if the original French was `herbes fines' and the translator was clueless to the fact that the French term was much more exact and familiar to American cookbook readers than the very vague English expression. I see similar foolish translations such as changing `Tart Tatin' to the pedestrian `Upside Down Apple Tart'.
All of these weaknesses are a shame, because for the avid foodie, this is a better than average introduction to a lot of very common French dishes which you would otherwise only find in speciality books on charcuterie or the less frequently visited pages of `Mastering the Art of French Cooking'.
One effect of the book is to make us familiar with many Le Creuset products we may not ordinarily see in the average well-stocked American cookery store or even on Amazon.com or Williams-Sonoma.com. For the Le Creuset collector, this provides a real wealth of things to do with these honestly very attractive pieces of cookware, not to mention excuses to buy more of these little darlings.
The Book has six chapters of recipes following an introduction on the `Principles of cooking' that really just gives advice on how to cook with the Le Creuset enameled iron and stoneware products. The recipes are just unusual enough to justify buying this small book. The six (6) recipe chapters are:
Soups and appetizers including Rabbit in Aspic, Sabodet Sausage in Wine, and a Crawfish gratin.
Fish including Bourride, Eel Slices, Braised Brill in Champagne, and Frogs Legs with Parsley and Chervil
Meat including Stewed Lamb Provencal-style, Beef Cheek casserole, and Pork Belly with buttered cabbage
Poultry including Coq au vin, Rabbit with Two Mustards
Vegetables including Wild Mushroom Risotto, Fall Vegetable Casserole, Pumpkin Gratin, and Ratatouille
Desserts including Souffle with Cointreau, Cherry Clafoutis, and Upside Down Apple Tart
This is obviously a collection of recipes that contain both recipes very familiar to the American foodie as well as recipes that never quite made their way from France to the average American table. It is also a very broad application of many different types of cookware, such as the special dish for preparing the `Upside Down Apple Tart'. Oddly, there is no dish for the very distinctive tagine, of which I know Le Creuset produces their typically colorful version.
The book includes two very good indices, one on principle ingredients and one on recipe names. Oddly, there is no general index or index of cookware types. And, while this may seem like an unabashedly commercial addition, I would really have liked to see a catalogue of all types of Le Creuset cookware.
Each recipe begins with a little picture of the cookware appropriate to the recipe, plus a very handy duration for prep, resting, and cooking. Unfortunately, this intro doesn't say which size of cookware to use, which is a shame, since some shapes come in every size from 2 to 12 quarts or more, all with roughly the same proportions.
The primary author, David Rathgeber, is the chef at one of Alain Ducasse's restaurants in Paris and the details of the recipes, when they are not hopelessly garbled in translation, seem to be quite good, although for the more common dishes, I would not necessarily give up my favorite Julia Child or Patricia Wells or Richard Olney version. This is a book for exploring new things.
A very good choice for the foodie, cookbook collector, and Le Creuset collector. Others should stick with superior books originally in English.
52 of 60 found the following review helpful:
Its a bit unrealistic for me Jun 02, 2006
By tobywoo
"tobywoo"
I like the book overall. I can tell by the other reviewers that it's the type of book for folks with a lot to say about cooking. I wanted to have ideas on how to use my new cookware. I found the recipes a bit over the top with a lot of veal(never a good idea) and unsavory/expensive/hard to obtain cuts of meat. I love the recipes I used but a lot of the book is useless to me. I am a mother of two young children and I enjoy cooking well and trying new things but this might be a book I need to shelve until later in life.
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Not a must have, but definately good to add in your cooking library. Jan 04, 2009
By Sebastien Parmentier
This book was written for those who have good skills in French cooking under their belt, or want to expend and develop their cooking skills as to enjoy the full potential of an expensive cooking pot such as what a Le Creuset dutch oven can provide. Yes, the book is too pricey, so find a used one if you can. But the pictures are superb, and can get you the instant light bulb above the head when struggling for idea for a great diner with friends.
The problem I found in this books is that it carries many mistakes as for examples, eggs that pops out in the middle of the procedure, but that are not mentioned in the list of ingredients, or cooking time not matching reality, such as the 25 minutes required to cook a creme brulee at 220 F, when in reality you'd need twice that much time. Surely, this was a poor translation from Celsius to Fahrenheit.
But the books has its gems.
The Terrine of Fish is a superb dish; and one of the easiest to try. The Potato Gratin is a must try for Americans, as to teach to them the proper ways of making an authentic Gratin without cheese. (yes, I'm looking at you ;) ) My wife learned how to do a perfect a creme brulee from that book - if you leave out the mistake i noted earlier, the quantities for the ingredients are superbly precise and work all the time. The Spiced, Stewed pears will knock your guest of their chairs, and the Coq au Vin, which will require a whole Sunday locked down in your kitchen, is probably the most superb recipe from the book. The many vegetable casseroles are also worth taking a good look.
Don't listen to those critics who say that the meat cuts asks from the books are unrealistic to find in the United States. Sure, if one shops only from the local corporate supermarket, that one won't be able to use this book at all. However, for those who have access to a mom and pop butcher shop, a wink at the butcher and a proper list of meat cuts will often get you the right kind of meat, for the butcher often will feel gratified in his/her job for you to allow him or her to finally sell something else that those boring porks shops, chicken breasts and beef chucks. It works for me all the time.
So, OK, you get my point. This book is not your Rachel Ray/ Twenty minutes/lose weight type of cooking book. It's not a French cooking bible either; but a great add to a serious cooking library. Unfortunately, we do live now in a world when the media all around us has brainwashed us to think that everything must be made easy, that everything must be dumbed down, and that everything must be made accessible to everyone. This book isn't for everyone. You won't find BBQ ribs a la Monday Night Football, home made Hot pockets, and everyone-can-do-it-Chef-Boyardee recipe.
Enrich your life darn it!
 an underrated classic Aug 20, 2011
By Thomas Debiase
This book is an absolute must have for the serious cook. Where else can you have all of Rathberger's recipes all bound up in a single book? The translation is a little weak, but you'll be cooking some darn fine bistro food in no time!
Le Creuset Cookbook Jan 11, 2011
By Tammy
As far as the cookbook, it is definitely not designed for an American diet. There are few main dishes that I will use from the cookbook, as I don't readily have access to hare, sweetbreads, and some fish and birds I have never heard of. I am not unhappy that I bought it, as it gives techniques that are compatable with foods I do cook.
I have to share...
(My LeCrueset dutch oven is the absolute best purchase I have ever made when it comes to kitchenware. I have made many delicious meals in it and it never fails to cook to perfection, and it keeps the meal warm (without overcooking it) for around an hour, if your meal has to be delayed. I can't believe I have been cooking for 33 years without this wonderful dutch oven. You gotta get one!!)
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