Rare Cook Books - Charity Shop Treasures

Okay, so these books may not be "rare" in the truest sense of the word, but they are collectible to cooks who can never seem to have enough reference volumes in the library. Local charity shops - thrift stores as they might say in the US -- are a treasure trove for out of print books not readily available on the open market.

This week, I picked up a few gems to study and cook from at home:
-- Wild Harvest with Nick Nairn - Over 100 recipes from Scotland's hottest chef
-- Raymond Blanc - Recipes from Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons
-- Rick Stein's Guide to the Food Heroes of Britain
-- Soup Kitchen - The Ultimate Collection from the Ultimate Chefs including Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Rick Stein
-- Death by Chocolate by Marcel Desaulniers

The best part of these culinary finds? None of them cost more than a pound. Though Death by Chocolate is one of my favorite cookbooks in my US home kitchen (and I'm thrilled to have it on hand again), I hadn't yet worked with any of the others.

I've done a little research and discovered that Wild Harvest was Michelin-starred Nick Nairn's first cookbook, and he's gone on to produce more than 20 books and multiple television series. His fame in the UK is legendary. Better yet, he now runs a Cook School in Port of Menteith, Stirling, Scotland to teach New Scottish Cookery.

Sounds like a cooking adventure to me . . .