Los Angeles Times Cookbook Hot List

1. “How To Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman (MacMillan, $25). A fresh approach to the cooking encyclopedia, with more than 1,500 recipes. 1/ 28

Last Week: 1

Weeks on List: 28

2. “The New York Times Passover Cookbook” edited by Linda Amster (William Morrow, $25). Collection of almost 50 years of Seder recipes. 2/5

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 5

3. “Soup: A Way of Life” by Barbara Kafka (Artisan, $35). All soups, all the time. 3/ 22

Last Week: 3

Weeks on List: 22

4. “Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone” by Deborah Madison (Broadway Books, $40). Vegetarian cookbook with 1,400 recipes and sections on ingredients and cooking methods. 5/ 61

Last Week: 5

Weeks on List: 61

5. “Lidia’s Italian Table” by Lidia Bastianich (William Morrow, $26). The woman described as “Italy’s great Mom cook” shares some of her recipes. 6/ 9

Last Week: 6

Weeks on List: 9

6. “The Pie and Pastry Bible” by Rose Levy Beranbaum (Scribner, $35). Another masterwork from America’s most obsessive cookbook writer. 10/22

Last Week: 10

Weeks on List: 22

7. “Tender at the Bone” by Ruth Reichl (Broadway Books, paperback, $13). A culinary memoir from the New York Times restaurant critic who is about to become editor in chief of Gourmet magazine. 4 /11

Last Week: 4

Weeks on List: 11

8. “Sophia Loren’s Recipes and Memories” by Sophia Loren (Good Times Publishing, $28). Favorite family recipes and anecdotes from the movie star. 9/ 7

Last Week: 9

Weeks on List: 7

9. “Kitchen Sessions With Charlie Trotter” by Charlie Trotter (Ten Speed Press, $29.95). Companion volume to Trotter’s TV show focuses on preparing fine cuisine at home. 8/ 9

Last Week: 8

Weeks on List: 9

10. “The Cook and the Gardener” by Amanda Hesser (W.W. Norton, $32.50) The relationship between a naive young cook and a crusty old French gardener. 1 / -

Last Week: 1

Weeks on List: --

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