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.

Last Week: 1

Weeks on List: 19

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

Last Week: 4

Weeks on List: 13

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

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 52

4. “Jean-Georges,” by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman (Broadway Books, $35). Creative restaurant cooking adapted for the home kitchen.

Last Week: 9

Weeks on List: 19

5. “Seductions of Rice,” by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Daguid (Artisan, $35). The world in a grain of rice.

Last Week: 5

Weeks on List: 8

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

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 13

7. “Chili Nation,” by Jane Stern and Michael Stern (Broadway Books, paperback, $12). Chili recipes from throughout the U.S.

Last Week: 7

Weeks on List: 2

8. “Ducasse, Flavors of France,” by Alain Ducasse and Linda Dannenberg (Artisan, $50). Ambitious home-style cooking from the six-star chef.

Last Week: 6

Weeks on List: 10

9. “Charlie Trotter’s Desserts,” by Charlie Trotter (Ten Speed Press, $50). It’s big and it’s beautiful, even if you never cook from it.

Last Week: 8

Weeks on List: 4

10. “Naples at Table,” by Arthur Schwartz (HarperCollins, $27.50). The south rises again.

Last Week: --

Weeks on List: 1

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