Conference turris::cooks

    I believe I have seen a book in my cookbook club which is called simply
    "Spice" or "Spices". Perhaps you can find it in the bookstore as well.
    Sorry, I don't know the author.
    
    Debbie
    

    Debbie,
    
    Bookstores here have just the microfiches to go by, and even then one
    needs to know if it's a British or American book.  Titles such as
    "spices" are too general - and I'd add that titles alone are
    uninformative - so I was interested in somebody's personal experience
    of a Spice book.  I don't really want to order books on the off-chance
    it might be what I'm looking for; here one has to purchase the orders one
    places.
    
    Thanks anyhow for responding !
    If anybody else has a great Spice book along the lines I described in
    .0, I'd be delighted to hear from them.
    
    Alexandra

    You might try your local library.  Ask the librarian to show you how to
    use the 'Books In Print' book.  Every library will have one (well, I'm
    sure that some won't) but every librarian will know what you mean.
    
    Books in print has multiple indices, including subject.
    
    Dana

    Several years ago McCormick/Schilling (the spice people) published a
    small, thick paperback called "Spices of the World". It is now fairly
    common in used bookstores. It not only goes into the history and uses
    of all the herbs and spices, but has a recipe section with dishes that
    showcase a particular spice. If you can't find one there, let me know
    and I will find one here.
    
    						Steve
    

Just got a catalog titled "Pendery's - taste merchants".  In it they
mention a book titled:

The Complete Book of Spices
       SPICES

A practical guide to spices and aromatic seeds
by Jill Norman

The description is:
A practical guide to spices and aromatic seeds,by
Jill Norman.  Provides information on all the main
uses and applications of spices: culinary, domestic
and therapeutic.  This is a colorful, informative
treatise everyone will enjoy.  $25.00

This is not a recommendation since I haven't seen the
book but may be what you are looking for.

Pendry's toll free number is 1-800-533-1870.

    Thanks to all !
    
    RE .3 - Dana, Swiss libraries don't have English language Books in
            Print information, but thanks anyhow.
    
    RE .4 - Steve, there are no used English language bookstores to speak
            of here, but I have inquired at an address in the UK that
            specializes in postal order books and will mail to Switzerland.
            If they can't get it for me, I'll send you mail - thanks for
            your offer.
    
    RE .5 - I've found this at the same UK address and should be receiving
            it within a few weeks.  Thanks for the reference.  Another
            freind mentioned this book but couldn't give enough info to 
            order it.
    
    If anybody wondered, I do speak fluent French and it would seem logical
    for me to seek a French book on Spices.  The French are more into herbs
    and use spices in a different way from the UK, with their Indian
    "heritage", or the Americans, who have explored flavours from afar and
    are less conventional in combining them.  It's interesting to compare
    the two cultures !
    
    Alexandra

    "The Complete Book of Spices" by Jill Norman is exactly what I was
    looking for.  For posterity's sake ....
    
    As DECWET::WOLFE said, it starts with a section on History of Spices,
    then describes roughly 50 spices (a page each) with colour drawings and
    pictures, gives details of flavour and culinary uses in different parts 
    of the World, offers information on cultivation, appearance of the
    plant and harvesting. There's a section on Spice mixtures, a whole section
    of recipes and a few pages at the end on storing spices, medicinal
    uses, pot-purris. The print quality is good and the pictures are clear
    and of good size. 
    
    It was especially the flavours and the culinary uses that interested
    me - this Jill does nicely. I would have liked a cross reference from
    foods to spices, but I can create my own index with the information
    from each Spice.
             
    Thanks to DECWET::WOLFE (is your name Isis ?  That was the only WOLFE
    in Seattle in ELF - do you know Debbie Girdler ?  Say Hi to her from me
    if you do!) and I hope more folks will explore Spices and Herbs and
    post their experiences here.
    
    Alexandra