Egg

For culinary visionary Michael Ruhlman, the question is not whether the chicken or the egg came first, it's how anything could be accomplished in the kitchen without the magic of the common egg. He starts with perfect poached and scrambled eggs and builds up to brioche and Italian meringue. Along the way readers learn to make their own mayonnaise, pasta, custards, quiches, cakes, and other preparations that rely fundamentally on the hidden powers of the egg. A unique framework for the book is provided in Ruhlman's egg flowchart, which starts with the whole egg at the top and branches out to describe its many uses and preparations - boiled, pressure-cooked, poached, fried, coddled, separated, worked into batters and doughs, and more. A removable illustrated flowchart is included with the book. Nearly 100 recipes are grouped by technique and range from simple (Egg Salad with Tarragon and Chives) to sophisticated (nougat). Dozens of step-by-step photographs guide the home cook through this remarkable culinary journey.

"Egg explores eggs' diversity while focusing on the basics."--Debbie Arrington, The Sacramento Bee, "Eggis a book that could serve as a useful primer for novices but will especially appeal to avid cooks who are curious about why and how recipes work."--Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, "As useful as it is elegant, as comforting as it is revelatory, Egg elevates its humble subject to well-deserved heights, providing detailed (and delicious) instructions along the way."--Dan Barber, executive chef and co-owner of Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, "Even the most devoted fan of the humble egg can gain a new perspective on the ingredient in Michael Ruhlman's new book." --Rebekah Denn, The Seattle Times , "Home cooks and professionals will embrace this useful resource, which includes a pull-out flow chart measuring over four feet long."--Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

Michael Ruhlman started writing about the lives of chefs 20 years ago, and he soon found an interest in becoming a chef himself. After his success with the narrative books The Making of a Chef, The Soul of a Chef and The Reach of a Chef, he has more recently taken his own skills in cooking to write innovative and successful food reference books including Ratio, The Elements of Cooking, and Charcuterie. Ruhlman has also appeared on food television numerous times, notably as a judge on Iron Chef and as a featured guest on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife, photographer Donna Turner Ruhlman.