Los Angeles Times Cookbook Hot List

1. “Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home” by Julia Child and Jacques Pepin (Alfred Knopf, $40). A spirited kitchen conversation between two great cooks. 3/31

2. “The Cake Mix Doctor” by Anne Byrn (Workman, $14.95). How to turn a box cake into something special. 1/11

3. “The French Laundry Cookbook” by Thomas Keller, Michael Ruhlman and Susie Heller (Artisan, $60). The International Assn. of Culinary Professionals’ best cookbook of the year. 2/24

4. “How To Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman (MacMillan, $25). A fresh approach to the cooking encyclopedia, with more than 1,500 recipes. 5/73

5. “Essentials of Cooking” by James Peterson (Artisan, $40). A step-by-step manual in full color. 4/9

6. “Dr. Atkins’ Quick and Easy New Diet Cookbook” by Robert C. Atkins and Veronica C. Atkins (Fireside $14). Another from the best selling diet author. 8/5

7. “The Herbfarm Cookbook” by Jerry Traunfeld (Scribner, $40). Recipes from the highly praised Washington restaurant. 7/2

8. “The Best Recipe” by the editors of Cook’s Illustrated magazine (Boston Common Press, $29.95). “Ultimate” examples of favorite dishes. --/16

9. “The New Joy of Cooking” by Irma Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker (Scribner, $30). The updated edition of the American cooking bible. 6/30

10. “This Can’t Be Tofu!” by Deborah Madison (Bantam Doubleday Dell, $15). America’s favorite vegetarian cook may change your mind about soy. --/1

Rankings are based on a Times poll of national and independent cookbook sellers.