Roberto Espinosa

My first Mexican cookbook, lifted from my Mom's library! A classic that yielded my first modern mexican recipe; Pork tenderloin in a maple syrup, sherry and soy sauce flavored with fresh garlic and ginger. Still delicious.

Great reference book with regional notes.

My first intro into French cooking and a well used book in my early days of cooking. A gift from my Mom.

Invaluable resource, encyclopedic if you will.

An 8 book paperback series with very simple recipes presented in a down and dirty fashion. These were hand me down's from my Mom.

This is a perennial favorite of mine and am a big fan of Grady Spears. His Cowboy Rib Eye recipe inspired our Cowboy taco. This one should be included for this reason

Beautiful book with fantastic photos and great recipes, many of which are the same ones in my mind's eye from my days in the Yucatan.

A lifestyle book written about "the rites of luxury" by a Spanish writer. I gleaned one of my favorite habits from one of his. Farm fresh tomato passed through a press with olive oil, salt and pepper, a little lime when the mood strikes, then sop it up with a good loaf of bread. Best eaten on a slow and lazy weekend at home.

Socorro Puig, Maria Stoopen. Very good resource for regional cooking.