This is the first cookbook I received as my birthday gift and first cookbook I own. My best friend/a woman I love gave it to me in 2000.



"When you acknowledge, as you must, that there is no such thing as perfect food, only the idea of it, then the real purpose of striving toward perfection becomes clear: to make people happy, that is what cooking is all about." is my all time favorite food quote. I go back and just look at it again and again and be inspired by.



This is the cookbook which has most influence in my food/cooking career. Thomas Keller will be remembered as the greatest and most influential American chef in USA for his role of mentoring many young chefs.