There are any number of cookbooks that specifically focus on recipes and beautiful pictures without a clear and concise explanation of the various ingredients and techniques used to create them.

We have researched a number of cookbooks and have relied heavily on a few top names in the industry to help us hone the selection of books below. These books have won a variety of awards such as the James Beard Foundation Award and other notables in the industry. They've been judged and critiqued by the best.

These are not just ordinary cookbooks but tomes that have withstood the test of time. Not only are the reviews by their peers worth reading but reviews by those who've purchased the books and used them extensively worth reading. Some cooks have even commented that they reordered books because the original was so food stained or worn through they just had to have a new clean copy.

We know you'll gain a better understanding of the various ingredients that you'll be using in addition to a more in-depth look into the "how to" of cooking them. These are excellent reference guides used by professionals as well as the home cook who wants a better understanding of the techniques and the products they use.