Just a quick reminder that I sign and personalize all my books on request. Just go to my books page, scroll to what you want, and click the "Buy a signed copy" button. We can guarantee before-Xmas arrival only if you order by the end of the day Monday, December 16. In the spirit of the holidays, and because I hate shipping charges, I am now offering FREE SHIPPING. But please, and this is really important, tell me who you want the book signed to by clicking the WHAT THE NOTE INCLUDED SHOULD SAY button before you hit the "pay now" button.
Also, I'd like to GIVE AWAY a signed copy of Ruhlman's Twenty AND The Book of Schmaltz to the first person who can guess my favorite 5-digit number. [Update: The winner was Melissa Fujimoto, of Burbank, CA, congrats!]
Just kidding. To enter the giveaway, leave who you want the books signed to in the comments below and a working email so I can contact you for your address. U.S. only, sorry. :^(
Winner will be chosen via Randomizer tomorrow, after I post my picks for new books of the season.
For today, my books. The book closest to my heart is Ruhlman's Twenty: 20 Techniques, 100 Recipes, a Cook's Manifesto. All you really need to know to cook basically everything is twenty fundamentals. This is a book for people who want to feel more comfortable in the kitchen, understand how and why cooking works, inside the hood as it were (recipes are the body and trim, techniques are the engine). It's also a book for those who like or need to cook and want to cook better. My wife Donna did all the photography and the food is not styled but shot as I made it so you can see what food can look like when you know the basics. I dislike over-stylized food photography that makes home cooks feel like failures because "that's not how it looked in the magazine." That weekday coq au vin on page 52: our dinner! Ditto the lamb shank. That angel food cake? I couldn't eat it because the kids got to it first!
My latest book, the short and short-subject book is The Book of Schmaltz: Love Song to a Forgotten Fat is also one I'm really proud of.
Others include Salumi: The Italian Craft of Dry Curing and Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking and Curing.
Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking and The Elements of Cooking: Translating the Chef’s Craft For Every Kitchen also strive to simplify the work of cooking, because it is work, but it's really, really important that we cook our own food. Our future in many ways depends on it.
My most beloved culinary nonfiction seems to be The Soul of a Chef: The Pursuit of Perfection, closely followed by The Making of a Chef: Mastering Heat at the Culinary Institute of America, followed by The Reach of a Chef: Professional Cooking in the Age of Celebrity, each book about differing aspects of the endlessly fascinating, brutal, elegant, metaphor-for-life professional kitchen.
And last but not least, a great stocking stuffer, my essay-long memoir on How I Became a Food Writer Without Ever Wanting to Be One, a Kindle Single called The Main Dish, readable on any device via the Kindle app, including iPads and laptops. I wrote this because I wanted to. I mean, how did this all happen, and why? It's important that we stop every now and then and answer these questions.
How did this happen and why?
The shopping links for the week:
© 2013 Michael Ruhlman. Photo © 2013 Donna Turner Ruhlman. All rights reserved.
Signed to me, Aaron. Is that selfish?
of course not selfish!!!
Signed to "Flannery Muscar"
Signed to "Shalonda Hill"
I'd like to share the wealth and have a list of names if I win 🙂
Thanks for being awesome Ruhlman!
Signed to Sarah.
Agreed, Natalie. Thanks for being awesome, Senor Ruhlman.
Signed to Nate please
Signed to "My One and Only"
I love all of your books. I keep checking out "Twenty" from my library, and would love my own signed copy! Signed to me of course, Melissa Caprio. 🙂
Signed to "Deborah" my girlfriend.
Signed to Elliott.
I have been collecting chicken skins in my freezer just waiting for when I get ahold a copy of Schmaltz 🙂
Signed to Daniel Peikes. I have been collecting chicken skins in my freezer just waiting for when I get ahold a copy of Schmaltz
Signed to "Lauren"
signed to Allyson
Signed to Matthew. Thank you!
Signed to "Matt"
signed to "A FOOD OBSESSION" grazie !!
Signed to Fayanne. I have "Ratio", and I love it.
Signed to Derek - my nephew who just graduated from college and wants to learn how to cook for himself.
Signed to "Robby and Tala"
Thank you!
This book would be great for my mom, signed to Barbara.
Signed to Cody!
Thank you for the generosity!
Signed to Courtney.
I've been waiting to get a Ruhlman's Twenty!
Signed to "Christina and Jason"
Signed to Natalie.
Signed to David.
Signed to Mike. And thank you!
Kate and Gavin! Thanks for the giveaway!
To me! Laura. 🙂
Signed to "Art Good - culinary student extraordinaire"
Signed to Tina
Signed to "Bad-ass Bourbon Bitch" Cheers!
Signed to "Barbra". Thanks for the giveaway and all your great writing!
To Josh, The Schmaltzeist nephew anywhere
Your food books are great but I'll use this opportunity to say how much I love House. I read it when I first moved to Cleveland because it was such a love letter to Cleveland. I'm reading it again because we're redoing a 100+ year old house in Ohio City and I need to the comradery.
To me - Gretchen
youre sweet, thanks gretchen.
Totally selfish but signed to RYAN. If I win I will use my newfound knowledge to cook even better for my friends and family!
Signed to: Sandy and Greg....
Signed to myself, Michael Villar, por favor.
to Debbie
have learned so much from your blog! thanks so much!
Signed to: Matt
Signed to Emilee...I have your "Ratios" book and would like for these to be my new favorite cookbooks...is that schmaltzy??
Signed to Josh. Of course he'll have to give me his well loved, unsigned copy in return.
would love to give the book to my husband, Kevin. He has been getting into more cooking techniques and would love this!
To Shaun
Thanks for being such a giving person! Signed to Trent, my son who is learning and loving to cook!
Howdy, signed to Mike Z would be lovely
Signed to Erica (who has a giant jar of schmaltz in the fridge at all times).
Signed - To Franklin
Just picked up Charcuterie for my father-in-law's gift!
Please sign to me, I buy for everyone else and do the cooking in our house.
Is it 44118?
Signed to myself, please.
ha!
Signed to Michael, from Michael
Signed to my daughter Dylan, who is bringing out her inner chef lately.
Signed to Cindy, my future mother-in-law, who is always obsessing over my copy of this book when she visits. 🙂
To Terry. But, I would share it with my Library.
SHucks :)) anyway you would have to pay Quebec Loto a fee if I won the contest ('member gambling is legal here and contests are considered gambling and that's why Quebecer's can never enter even Canadian contests...) so I am used to that...:(( but it's still a bitch
Signed to Chris
Signed to Jennifer, please.
Just bought Charcuterie for my boyfriend, so this would be a great companion gift - signed to Middy
To: Meg and Liz Happy 13th birthday! Time to learn the art!
I like all your food/cooking books but I want to use this opportunity to say how much I like House. I read it when I first moved to Cleveland because it was such a love letter to Cleveland, and now, I'm reading it again because we're renovating a 100+ house in Ohio City and I need the comradery.
To me : Gretchen
Signed to Brian "Deadpool" Wingler
signed to zan... but i promise to share what i cook.
to melissa...
thank you!
Signed to me, Karen, because I do all the cooking (with love) for my family AND because I'm awesome, of course 😉
Signed to Amanda, my sweet wife who's working to be as good of a "cooker" as her awesome husband.
signed "to Kai and Kate, Keep on cooking!"
Signed: To the wonderful, dedicated cooks at Stone Soup
Thanks!
Signed to my husband, Craig....who is working his way through your charcuterie book and keeping me spoiled with all his tasty creations!
20 lessons learned...
Love your posts! Signed to my husband "Matt Conyer" 🙂
Signed to Kara, please. Read Making of a Chef before my Big Kid went to CIA. Such a great book - it made me want to attend with her.
Michael Russell
Signed to Josh
Thanks!
Signed to Adam. Thanks!
Signed to Dennis
Signed to James D Nelson, Chef in training.
Signed to Adam
But me, not that other Adam!
Signed to John
Signed to Chris please
I feel like for posterity it should be signed to "73", Sheldon Cooper's favorite 2 digit number.
20 to Brud (I've already got it), Schmaltz to me ('cause I don't yet).
Signed to Bonnie, please!
I'd love one signed for my awesome girlfriend Laura, who is finally learning to become comfortable in the kitchen. I think this would be a lovely book for her.
I'm a big fan!
signed to "Westwood Regional High School Culinary Department" Would like to add your books to the class library!
I'd be beyond thrilled to get these!
I'd love Schmaltz signed to Eric, and 20 to me, Sarah.
Signed to "Sara", please!
Signed to me, Laura Jane, because I am a little bit selfish 🙂
Signed to "Angela"
Signed to Chef Chuck please!
To Joni
TO:
'Bill & Cassie'
Thanks Chef!
Signed to Seth
Signed to "Madelyn Arley"
Signed "to Andrew." Thank you!
I'm going to be a selfish one, here. I do all the cooking in our house, and would love to have a signed copy, to Frank.
I guessed 20100 for 20 techniques, 100 recipes.
Signed to Lisa if I'm the lucky winner.
Signed to Todd, please!
Signed to "Briana". Thanks!
Signed to my friend Todd (Hello Kitty up-thread) because I already have this book, he needs it, and I can fake your signature in mine if I get that desperate :o).
Signed to Amy, please.
Signed to Justin D. please!
Signed to my husband, Craig. I am a lucky woman to have a cooking husband!
Signed to Jessie, please!
Signed to Jalees, please!
please sign to julie, who loves the combination of food and numbers!
Signed to Ellen please.
Signed to Lisa, please
Signed to Alicia, please.
Signed "to Ryan, the best sous chef," please!
Please sign to Kristin.
Sign to James please! woohoo!
Signed to Lauren, please!
Please sign to Miriam
Signed to my sister, Jean. Thank you!
Please sign to my latest hero, Chef Stewart, my culinary school instructor.
SIgned to Jay
Signed to "Justin C".
Signed to Liam please. THANK YOU!!!
Signed to Burk, please!
To my dad, Joe...Thank you!
Signed to Shannon and Matt
Signed to Terri, please. Thank you!
Signed to Laura, please. What a great giveaway! Thanks!
Ooo to Beth, please. Yeah, I'm going to be selfish and want these for me 🙂 I have been ogling Schmaltz for quite a while now, and Twenty looks amazing also. THANK YOU for running this contest 🙂
Please sign it for Ryan!! He takes so much pride in his cooking and I'm one lucky lady to have him to learn from (and of course to eat his creations!). He's a huge fan of yours. Thanks so much!
Signed to Niall Please. Thanks for putting together a rad giveaway!
Signed to Wendy, please! My gift will be to cook from them for my family!
Please sign it to Thom and April, Happy Cooking!
Thanks very much and happy holidays to you and yours.
Tv
Signed to Andy, please. Love your work!
Signed to my big brother Todd S! He is better than all the rest! !!!!
Signed to Clayton, please!
Signed to Tim Huff please and thank you.
Please sign to Hanna!
Signed to Dan please.
Signed to christina, please!
Sign to Super Hog Builder!
Sign it to Chef Eric
I own most of your books and they are so wonderful.
Signed to Emmett, please!
Signed to "Aislinn and Jasper" please!
Signed "To Carolyn, the woman of my dreams!"
hehe
From one pig-loving schmaltz queen to another - love ya!
To Annie, never stop creating flavor!
signed to Stacey
[email protected]
Sign to Will
To Rivkah, please :).
This one's for *me* baby!
I've been very very interested in "Schmaltz" since it came out, but I kinda want "Twenty" in real book form. The e-version just isn't cutting it for me. So the two together is a sweet deal!
Sign to Lauren
I would love it signed to me! My Birthday was the 8th & I want to make some fab recipes to gift to my hubby!
Sign to Brandon, please.
Sign to Evan. Your books come highly recommended by all my foodie friends.
Should I win, I'd like it signed to "Rebecca Frost." (Though I'll likely steal it often from her!)
Sign to Steve if I happen to be so lucky. Keep up the great work!
Signed to Ben, please!
Cindy will love these!
To my husband Tom.
To Margo
Signed to my husband, Adam
Signed to Erik, please.
Please sign it to my children: Noah, Mimi, Daniel, Anna, Eilís, Basil, and Irena, I want them to always remember when Mama taught them how to cook and that I loved to cook for them.
I would love to give these to my husband. That would 100% make his holiday.
*oops. My husband, Jim.
A gift to myself, please sign to Cindy!
Signed to Granny, thanks for all of your love and cooking knowledge!
You can sign it to Lisa. Or you could just make up a name if I win.
To Bob. Thank you.
To Christopher. Thanks.
To Marcia, please, and thank you! Happy holidays. My mom could use some more technique under her belt.
To my wife, Amberleigh. Thank you.
Inscribed to madmarycat, would be great!
Signed to Lisa.
Sign it to Linda, please!
To Anne and Stuart, wishing them a lifetime of happiness, laughs, and kickass food!
To Christine
To Gumbino
to Joe