Jeff Potter - Cooking for geeks: real science, great hacks, and good food. - Includes index

Cooking for Geeks: Real Science, Great Hacks, and Good Food

Jeff Potter

Editor

Laurel Ruma

Editor

Brian Sawyer

Copyright 2010 Jeff Potter

Cooking for Geeks

by Jeff Potter

All rights reserved.

Published by OReilly Media, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472.

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Editors: Brian Sawyer and Laurel R.T. Ruma
Production Editor: Rachel Monaghan
Copyeditor: Rachel Head
Proofreader: Rachel Monaghan
Indexer: Lucie Haskins
Cover Designer: Mark Paglietti
Interior Designer: Edie Freedman
Illustrator: Aaron Double
Printing History:
July 2010: First Edition.

The OReilly logo is a registered trademark of OReilly Media, Inc. The Cooking for Geeks cover image and related trade dress are trademarks of OReilly Media, Inc. The phrase "Cooking for Geeks" is a trademark of Atof Inc.

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While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

Back cover photograph by Matthew Hrudka.

[TG]

O'Reilly Media

Recipe Index

Breakfast

Drinks

Breads

Appetizers and Sides

Salads

Soups

Sauces and Marinades

Mains

Desserts

Components & Ingredients

List of Interviews

Preface

Hackers, makers, programmers, engineers, nerds, techieswhat well call "geeks" for the rest of the book (deal with it)were a creative lot who dont like to be told what to do. Wed rather be handed a box full of toys or random electronic components, or yarn, or whatever, and let loose to play.

But something happens to some geeks when handed a box full of spatulas, whisks, and sugar. Lockup. Fear. Foreign feelings associated with public speaking, or worse, coulrophobia . If youre this type, this book is for you.

Then theres another type of geek: the ber-nerd, whos unafraid to try anything...maybe a bit too unafraid, but hasnt had that Darwin Award moment (yet). The type of geek who is either "all on or all off," who addresses every aspect of the perfect cup of coffee, down to measuring the pressure with which the grinds are tamped into the espresso machines portafilter. This kind of geek is always on the search for the next bit of knowledge. If youre this type, this book will inspire you.

And then theres everyone else: the everyday geek, normal, inquisitive, and looking to have more fun in the kitchen. Maybe youre comfortable in the kitchen and would like new ideas, or perhaps youre not quite sure where to start but are ready to give it a go. This book will show you easy ways of trying new things.

Regardless of which type of geek you are, as long as you have "the courage of your convictions" to pick up the spatula and try, youll do fine. The goal of this book is to point out new ways of thinking about the tools in that box full of kitchen gear.

Of course, I have plenty of tips and secrets to share ("spill the beans," as they say), so I hope youll buy this book and take it home with you. Scribble notes in the margins about bits that you like (or just starupvote?those paragraphs). Write in questions on things that leave you perplexed or wondering. Learning to cook is about curiosity, learning to ask questions, and figuring out how to answer those questions.