Los Angeles Times Cookbook Hot List

1. “Kitchen Confidential” by Anthony Bourdain (Bloomsbury Publishing, $24.95). Life in the culinary trenches.

Last Week: 1

Weeks on List: 19

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

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 32

3. “How to Cook Without a Book” by Pam Anderson (Bantam Doubleday Dell, $25). Outlines for dishes every cook should know. 3/9

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4. “The French Laundry Cookbook” by Thomas Keller, Michael Ruhlman and Susie Heller (Artisan, $50). Recipes and inspiration from the famous Napa Valley restaurant. 6/42

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5. “Soul of a Chef” by Michael Ruhlman (Viking Press, $26.95). What makes chefs cook?

Last Week: 5

Weeks on List: 8

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

Last Week: 4

Weeks on List: 95

7. “1,000 Jewish Recipes” by Faye Levy (IDG Books Worldwide, $35). Could this be the Jewish “Joy of Cooking”?

Last Week: --

Weeks on List: 1

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

Last Week: 10

Weeks on List: 23

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

Last Week: 8

Weeks on List: 15

10. “The Low-Carb Cookbook” by Fran McCullough (Hyperion, $23.95). Recipes for the diet that’s all the rage.

Last Week: 9

Weeks on List: 39

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