‘Tis the season to be jolly and there’s no jolly without eating and there’s no eating without cookbooks. Hence my idea for the first ever (as far as I know) internet-wide literary-food-gift-exchange program entitled THE AMATEUR GOURMET’S SECRET COOKBOOK SANTA. (All caps adds to the festivity.)
With the help of Andrea, our Amateur Gourmet survivor champ, we will spread the joy of cooking across continents and into your mailboxes. Here’s how it works:
(1) Sign up in the comments below. List three cookbooks that you’d really like and three cookbooks that you’d rather not get because you already have them. (NOTE: There is no guarantee that you will get a cookbook you put on your list, but it may help your secret santa narrow the playing field. Also, I should say here, there is no guarantee that you will even get a cookbook! Someone will get your address but who knows if they’re evil or not? Maybe they won’t send you anything and simply reap the benefits of being a Secret Cookbook Santa. I can’t protect you from the evil in the world, dear reader. Let’s just put our faith in humanity and hope for the best. OK?)
(2) When we hit 100 sign-ups, that’s it. Andrea has a child, you know. Maybe if there’s interest beyond the initial 100 another food blogger can take over for the next 100.
(3) Once you have signed up, send an e-mail with your address (or mailing information) to cookbooksanta@gmail.com. If you sign up in the comments with a different name than the one in your e-mail, make sure to link the two so your Secret Santa knows who you are and can see the cookbooks you like, etc etc.
(4) Pretty soon you will receive an e-mail from Andrea telling you who to send a cookbook to. Please send it so it arrives before Christmas because that would just make sense. If you’re Jewish and you want your cookbook before Hannukah, you are being ridiculous: Hannukah is in like 5 days. If you are an international person you can participate, but you will be expected to send your cookbook internationally. If you are national (as in you live in America) you will only have to send a cookbook within the contiguous United States and maybe Guam if anyone reading this site lives in Guam.
And that’s it, basically. I think we’ve covered all our bases. If this sounds too complicated, all you really have to do is (1) sign up in the comments and (2) send an e-mail to cookbooksanta@gmail.com with your address. We’ll stop at 100.
Hope this has you fah lah lah lah lah-ing all the way to the stove. Enjoy!
Fondly,
The Amateur Gourmet Elf
Comments
44 responses to “Secret Cookbook Santa Sign-Up”
What a great idea! Sign me up!Books I would like:Nigella Lawson, FeastJulia Child, The Way to CookIna Garten, The Barefoot ContessaBooks I already have:Jamie Oliver booksDonna Hay booksThanks! Happy Holidays!
Ooo! Me too!Books I would like:Moosewood low fat favoritesNigelle Lawson, FeastThe Essential EatingWell CookbookBooks I already have:GourmetCheeseboard collected worksJamie Oliver booksLooking forward to swapping with my SS!
books I would like:any by Ina Gartenany by Mario Batalibooks I have:Gourmet cookbookOlives TableMagnolia BakeryMany Martha Stewarts
This sounds wonderful. We’re only sending each other one cookbook, right?OK, cookbooks I want…The Barefoot Contessa CookbookThe Book Lover’s CookbookThe Wine BibleCookbooks I have (it’s sad, I know)Williams Sonoma ClassicsBetty Crocker/Women’s Day/Better Homes and Gardens basic starter cookbooksWok and Stir-fry
Ooh, this is neat. Good luck to you guys keeping this all organized!!Things I want:Something by Deborah Madison (anything)Something by Rose Levy Beranbaum (except The Cake Bible)The Gourmet CookbookThings I have:Nigella Lawson (all of ’em)Julia Child (pretty much all of ’em)An entire bound set of Cook’s Illustrated, which covers most of their books I’d guess.
Fun!Cook books I want:Magnolia Bakery Cookbookany by Ina GartenTom Valenti’s Soups, Stews and One-Pot MealsCook books I have:all by Nigella Lawsonseveral by Martha Stewartseveral by Trish Deseine
I’ll play!Cook books I’d like:Any Ina Garten Barefoot ContessaMagnolia BakeryThe Best RecipeWhat We HaveLidia BastianichLots of books on barbecue and grillingloads of Italian cookbooks
Excellent Idea.Books I’d LikeCooking New AmericanJaques Pepin:Fast Food My WayThe Slow Mediterranean Kitchen : Recipes for the Passionate CookBooks I Have:Many! includingThe Babbo CookbookCharmaine Solomon’s Asian EncyclopediaThe Bread Bible (Rosy Levy Berenbaum)
This sounds like fun!I would really really likeJacque Pepin: Fast Food My WayAlso, the Gourmet cookbookBasically any other cookbook, especially if it has the words ‘fast’ and/or ‘easy’ in the title.I have:Southern Living Cooking LightSome stir-fry cookbookSix ingredients or lessBetty Crocker’s 30min or less
Great idea!Cookbooks I’d like:Vegan PlanetThe Artful VeganNonna’s Italian KitchenCookbooks I have:a variety of the Moosewood booksSinfully Veganum… a lot of other veggie cookbooks. 🙂
This is fantastic idea.I would love to receive:Barefoot in ParisBarefoot Contessa PartiesThe French Laundry CookbookI already have:The Minimalist Cooks DinnerThe Minimalist Cooks at HomeBack to the Table
how fun!!books i would like!-anything by nigella lawson-anything by alice waters-anything by mario batalibooks i have or dont want :)–anything emeril-anything julia child-barefoot in parisi cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!
How exciting!What I would like:Either of Pierre Herme’s dessert cookbooks (chocolate or regular)Something MoosewoodSomething by Nigella(I’ll really appreciate any real cookbooks since the only ones I own are from the bargain bin at Borders.)What I have:How It All Vegan (but I’m not a vegan)As I said, a bunch of cheap ones titled by region or number of ingredients.
How fun! I would like:The American Boulangerie: Pascal RigoVegetarian Cooking for Everyone: Deborah MadisonButter Sugar Flour Eggs: Gale GandI already have:tons of bread cookbookslots of vegetarian booksmost of Nava Atlas’ books
alrighty then! this is fab!I want:How to be a domestic goddessBarefoot ContessaThe French Laundry CookbookI have:lots of ‘basics’ bookssome ethnic cookingalso some baking
Sign me up, Santa(s)!I’d like:1) Claudia Roden’s The New Book of Middle Eastern Food2) Claudia Roden’s The Book of Jewish Food: An Odyssey from Samarkand to New York3) Julia Child’s The Way to CookI already have:All of the Nigella Lawson booksAmanda Hesser’s Cooking for Mr. LatteLots of basic cookbooks
me too, me too!Wants:Nigella’s FeastAny Barefoot ContessaSusan Branch’s AutumnHaves:Nigella’s Domestic GoddessMost of the Williams Sonoma “Complete” SeriesEmeril’s Every Day’s a Party
Awesome. I’ve always wanted to do a Secret Santa.Books I want:The New Best RecipeAnything by Nigella LawsonThe Cake Bible by Rose Levy BeranbaumBooks I have:Many random, old cookbooksThe Best Recipe
What a cool idea…I’d love:Fast Food My Way: Jacques PepinGetting Thin and Loving It: Kathleen DaelemansI’m Just Here for More Food: Alton BrownWhat I have:Tons and tons of cookbooks, from pastry and breads to Jamie Oliver and Donna Hay, classics to new ones (My thought… you can never have too many cookbooks!):) Samantha
Love the idea of the exchange. I am looking for a regional one though, the “Listen to the Mrs.” cookbook first one they made back in the 80’s, by Art Lewis and Sue Smith(local radio talk show 790 WSGW )in Central Michigan. I have the rest of them and one extra of the last one willing to give.Also would like the “too busy to cook cookbook”1981 from Bon Appetitand I haveMario Batali- Simple Italian FoodListen to the mrs. cookbook sixth editionThe Easy Bake oven Gourmet cookbook
Oh, this is crazy fun!I would like something in the area of:Jamie oliverIna GartenAnything ethnicI already have:CaprialTyler FlorenceSushi out the ying-yang
Yay! I love cookbooks!I would like:The Minimalist Cookbooks, by Mark Bittmann, including that crazy one where he and Jean-Georges Vongerichten cook togetherThe Babbo CookbookThe Zuni Cafe CookbookNigella, FeastI already have:Barefoot ContessaBetter Homes and GardensAmanda HesserMost of NigellaPlenty of baking cookbooksMoosewoodDiana KennedyJulia CHild
Great idea!Wants:any Mario BataliHow to Grill, Steven Raichlenany Nigella LawsonHave:lots of basic cookbooksJamie Oliverlots of dessert books
Oooo, how fun! I wanna play.Want:Barefoot Contessa PartiesLidia’s Italian-American KitchenUnion Square Cafe Cookbooka good baking book (surprise me)Have:All the other Barefoot Contessa booksThe Joy of CookingHow to be a Domestic Goddess
hello! I’m an international person (wow, thanks for giving me the opportunity to say this), so I could probably only manage quite simple wishes in my Rome international bookshop, but probably lots of Italian cookbooks in English.My wishes are:anything my secret santa really likes and thinks one can’t live withouthave:alice b toklas cookbookfannie farmer
w00t! w00t! sign me up too! I’m very excited :-)Books on my list:-anything by Ina Garten-anything unique and original (even home-made)-anything internationalBooks I already have:-Rebar Modern Food Cookbook (highly recommended) and other vegetarian ones-Just about everything published by the Australian Women’s Weekly-Lots of “cookie” bookslooking forward to it! Thanks kind TAG fans 🙂 Bubbie
Oooh! Me too, me too!Want:Flavors of Korea (Korean Vegetarian)Mediterranean Vegan KitchenMost anything vegetarian/ethnic (esp Asian)Have:Bread Machine BakingClassic Indian Vegetarian & Grain CookingTop One Hundred Pasta Sauces
How nice!Would like (not limited to–but vegetarian-friendly please!):Alice Waters, Chez Panisse Vegetablesany good dessert book with beautiful picturesNigella Lawson, How to EatHave:other Chez Panisse booksFannie FarmerShirley Corriher, CookWiseThank you!
What FUN!Here’s the info:Books I Would LikeFrench Laundry CookbookAnything Nigella LawsonAnything Barefoot ContessaBooks I HaveA few Jamie Oliver CookbooksA few Martha Stewart CookbooksA few Julia Child Cookbooks
Of course I didn’t put all my Italian cookbooks in the have list, my secret Santa wouldn’t be so daft as to send a pasta cookbook or anything similar from the US to Turin, Italy, would he??
oh me too! me too!want:- Moosewood cookbook book of desserts- anything jamie oliver- barefoot contessahave:- all the other moosewoods- the rebar cookbook (seriously, you want this cookbook)- any “light” or “lowfat” cookbooks- the wholefoods market cookbook
What a great idea!Books I’d like:The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen : Recipes for the Passionate CookThe Whole Foods Market CookbookAny Cooks Illustrated booksBooks I HaveLots of Slow Cooker booksJamie Oliver’s DinnersThe first Alton Brown book + the Gear book (I’ve asked Santa for the baking one)
What I’d love:any by Ina GartenThe Weekend Baker by Abigail Johnson DodgeAny cookbook that my secret person has used frequently and had good resultsWhat I don’t want:Anything by Rachael RayAnything that is prone to having horrid results (I’m new at this cooking thing)What I have:The Joy of CookingBetter Homes and GardenThe Flying Biscuit Cafe Cookbook (yum!)
It looks like the sign-ups are slowing down. Are you going to stop before you reach 100?I want to start shopping! :-)Happy Hanukkah!
i live in guam. on guam. within the borders of guam. do i get to sign up?
Oh yay!Books I have:How to Be a Domestic Goddess by NigellaMoosewood cookbooksAll Martha StewartsBooks I want:Any from The Barefoot ContessaFeast from NigellaAny Julia Childs
Nice site!
uh. mah. gad. lesse…barefoot contessamarcella hazan (any)mimi sheratonstalking the green fairyanything by mfk fisherarthur schwartz’s nyc food
Cool!Wants:A good Thai cookbook.A cookbook of South American Food.An ethnic or regional cookbook from someplace that’s not on the list of the top ten ethnic food categories.Have: A wide variety with favorites being Alton Brown, Jamie Oliver, Moosewoods, Madhur Jaffrey, and Rick Bayless.
Count me in!I want:I’m just here for more food – Alton BrownAnything by Julia ChildAny Marcella HazanDon’t need:Anthony Bourdain’s latestMoosewood CookbooksSaucesThis is a great idea!
I’m playing too!Cookbooks I’d like:The Gourmet CookbookBouchon BakeryAnything my Marcella HazanAlready have:Barefoot Contessa booksNancy Silverton booksThe books you see above on the left.Thanks!
Your Secret Santa assignments have started going out. A number of you did not email your addresses to cookbooksanta@gmail.com. If you’d still like to participate, please get us your address right away so that we can tell your Secret Santa where to send your cookbook!It’s still not to late to join in, but time is running out…
Fun, Fun, Fun!I want:From Curries to KebabsThe Compleat SquashOn Food and CookingI already have:a ton of bread booksa ton of baking books
I’m happy to make it in time!I love cookbooks and would appreciate any of the following:Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, Bertholle & BeckAmerican Boulangerie by Pascal RigoMaccioni Family Cookbook by Egi MaccioniThe New York Times Cookbook by Craig ClaiborneI have a LOT of other cookbooks but Im really not picky and I think this cokbook swap is going oto be fun. Happy Holidays everybody and good eating and drinking to all!