Canal House Cooking

I sometimes wish this was not the case, but when it comes to books, I am a complete impulse buyer. I never feel an ounce of guilt. When I was in New York last fall, I visited four bookshops and bought something at every one. With cookbooks, I show a bit more restraint. I try my best to test-drive library books first. Once I've checked a book out more than three times, I'm absolved. I can buy my own copy.

This weekend I came across Canal House Cooking and it took me all of five minutes before I was ordering every available copy. Canal House is a joint project between a veteran food stylist and photographer. They publish three volumes a year: Summer, Fall & Holiday and Winter & Spring. You can purchase single volumes or an annual subscription. My packet of the first three arrived today, and let me tell you, they are gorgeous. I opened volume one to the first chapter, "It's Always Five O'Clock Somewhere," and saw a recipe for the classic Sidecar. Canal House Cooking and I were meant to be.

They almost fill the void that Gourmet left behind.