Besides cooking, reading is my top hobby so I thought I would share two wonderful culinary-themed books I just read – Julie & Julia and Kitchen Confidential.  Neither are new releases but I finally got around to reading both of them.

Several people suggested reading Julie & Julia after I started my blog.  Eager to read it before seeing the movie, I read the book last week.  And I loved it!  Julie Powell’s book recounts the year in which she attempts to cook — and blogs about — all 524 recipes from Julia Child’s Mastering The Art of French Cooking, Volume 1.  The book was not only witty, but I also related to it.  I recognize in myself the same pressure to cook a new recipe to deliver fresh content to my — as Julie Powell calls them — “bleaders”.  More significantly, cooking and the writing of my blog provide me with a similar sense of purpose and satisfaction.  I love running AdBuyer.com but starting your own company is stressful and often lacks the immediate gratification I like, so cooking a meal that Tim raves about and my readers respond to provides me a real boost.  Now that I have finished reading the book, I cannot wait to see the movie.  I love Meryl Streep and Amy Adams!

While I didn’t relate to Kitchen Confidential in the same way (having never worked in a restaurant), I have eaten in innumerable NYC restaurants so I loved the inside look into the restaurant kitchens.  I really enjoyed Anthony Bourdain’s style and humor and concluded the book thinking that I like being a home cook and don’t think I have the chops to hack it in a busy New York City restaurant kitchen.

Happy reading!