Title: Cooking Coach: A Cooking Playbook for the Rookie, as Well as the Semipro
Author: Jan Plummer
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1532093975
Pages: 436
Genre: Culinary Arts & Techniques/Cooking Methods/Cookbooks, Food & Wine
Reviewed by: Tony Espinoza

Read Book Review

Finding a means of expression is something many people undertake in their lives, and each of us is different in this regard. Some take paths of science and mathematics to define themselves, while others take on a creative nature such as a writer or artist. However, a wonderful and nutritious way of expressing oneself is in fact cooking. Even Maya Angelou herself once said, “I’m just someone who likes cooking and for whom sharing food is a form of expression.”

In author Jan Plummer’s Cooking Coach: A Cooking Playbook for the Rookie, as Well as the Semipro, the author uses years of experience as a home economics teacher to reach out to those who may have missed out on these kind of courses to fully understand, educate and experience cooking and everything that goes with it. From measurements and maintenance in the kitchen to recipes for various styles of food, the author helps inexperienced and semi-professional cooks alike to better understand and grasp the nature of cooking in all its forms.
This was a fantastic, eye-opening read for anyone who may be inexperienced with the world of cooking outside of the basics. The author does a great job of covering in detail things such as kitchen safety and common cooking terms which may have escaped the inexperienced cook, to full recipes for those looking to better understand and utilize the food they are working with. The author’s attention to detail and understanding of the subject shines through in this lengthy read, and is very educational to those with little or no experience in this field, which in this day and age happens far too often.

This is the perfect read for those who enjoy non-fiction reads, are fascinated with cooking and food in general, or those who enjoy good cookbooks and are looking for new recipes for various styles of food. What really stood out to me was the way the author incorporated the history of certain foods, how they came to be, what they were primarily used for, how to store the food properly, and then moving onto the recipes for that particular food. It was very educational and enlightening overall.

This book is a phenomenal, educational and thorough read. The author brilliantly covers the subject of cooking and food overall while giving both newcomers and experienced cooks alike a tried and true perspective on the field overall. If you enjoy learning more about cooking and food and want to better yourself in the kitchen, be sure to grab your own copy of author Jan Plummer’s Cooking Coach: A Cooking Playbook for the Rookie, as Well as the Semipro.