L.A. Times Cookbook Hotlist

1.”French Lessons” by Peter Mayle (Alfred Knopf, $24). The colorful French and how they eat.

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 5

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2.”Suzanne Somers’ Eat, Cheat and Melt the Fat Away” (Crown, $25). A manual for how to cheat on a diet.

Last Week: 3

Weeks on List: 8

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3.”Weber’s Big Book of Grilling” by Jamie Purviance and Sandra McRae (Chronicle, $22.95). Who knows barbecueing better?

Last Week: 7

Weeks on List: 6

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4.”Comfort Me With Apples” by Ruth Reichl (Random House, $24.95). More adventures at the table, and elsewhere.

Last Week: 1

Weeks on List: 8

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5.”Fast Food Nation” by Eric Schlosser (Houghton Mifflin, $25). A condemnation of the national pastime .

Last Week: 6

Weeks on List: 15

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6.”Kitchen Confidential” by Anthony Bourdain (Ecco Press, $14). The bad boy is back--in paperback.

Last Week: 4

Weeks on List: 50

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7.”How to Read a French Fry” by Russ Parsons (Houghton Mifflin, $25). Times’ Food Editor makes cooking science interesting--and tasty.

Last Week: 10

Weeks on List: 2

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8.”How to Grill” by Steven Raichlen (Workman, $19.95). A picture-filled textbook for the barbecue-challenged.

Last Week: --

Weeks on List: 1

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9.”Barefoot Contessa Parties” by Ina Garten (Clarkson Potter, $32.50). The chic takeout store is back!

Last Week: --

Weeks on List: 9

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10.”The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook” by Ina Garten (Clarkson Potter, $32.50). The first book from the specialty food store in the Hamptons.

Last Week: 5

Weeks on List: 7

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