It is a bit of an easy, cheesy present I admit, and I do feel it’s a bit of a copout especially when I go round to the recipient’s houses and see the said cook book proudly displayed on their shelf but it looks like it has never even been opened. As if the guilt of buying them the book in the first place isn’t enough, now I’m thinking I misjudged their tastes and bought them a book that they don’t like.

For example I have one friend who I noticed had an almost complete set of the Nigel Slater books, so that was easy I thought, just buy the latest one in the series. When I next went over to see them my book was there on his shelf in sequence with the others but I noticed none had been visibly used…like James Bond I cunningly mentioned that I had bought him one of the books for Christmas and got to have a little look through his collection, his perfect, unmarked, mint condition, ready for auction at Sotheby’s collection.

Is it just me or is it that the millions of cook books from famous chefs, restaurants, TV shows or other styles that have been sold are just simply lifestyle props which never actually get a good outing in the kitchen? I do fear that a vast majority of these books bought lovingly as presents have become mere decorations. It would be completely pointless but at least a little interesting to know if there is a cook book out there that sold in thousands but no one ever cooked anything from them

You see I am guilty of this too, and whether subconscious or not, but there is something great about having a latest book to publically display your prowess in the kitchen. I have more than a few which I think I have made one or two recipes from and then they have been laid to rest like some museum piece for cultural reference only.

Now the ones which are most important to me are the books which are a bit dog eared and have the odd splash, splat and stain on them, like scars telling the story of their duty on the kitchen front. These are not the ones for public display and are more likely to be hidden away in a dark cupboard almost in shame.

But wait, surely I have got this wrong?

I should have the ones which have seen years of use and abuse displayed in full view, that would surely be a better example of how I do get it on in the kitchen. I have a Madhur Jaffrey book which has been in used for many decades and some of it is now almost unreadable, another favourite of mine are the Donna Hay (for Australian Marie Claire) Cooking and Dining books which have both had a hard life in the kitchen. Then there’s my old school 1970’s Italian Cooking book which tells you how to make every classic dish and I think I have done them all…at least twice!

I won’t be buying anyone a cook book for Christmas this year, I have however seen a few that would look so good on my bookshelf

Do you have a cook book you have never used? Was it a gift or an impulse buy? Or do have a kitchen bible which you just can’t live without? Please share!

Michael Robinson

Author information

The Food Curator

The Food Curator (AKA Michael Robinson) is an aficionado of all things food and bon viveur based in London. A passion for cooking and dining has driven him to put fingers to keyboard to bring you his thoughts on the world of food. When not writing, eating or cooking he has a love of American muscle cars. Pop on over to my Facebook page and let's start a Facebook food revolution together: http://tinyurl.com/thefoodcurator

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