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/ 18

Last Week: 1

Weeks on List: 18

2. “The Pie and Pastry Bible� by Rose Levy Beranbaum (Scribner, $35). Another masterwork from America’s most obsessive cookbook writer. 4/12

Last Week: 4

Weeks on List: 12

3. “Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone� by Deborah Madison (Broadway Books, $40). Vegetarian cookbook with 1,400 recipes and sections on ingredients and cooking methods. 3/ 51

Last Week: 3

Weeks on List: 51

4. “Soup: A Way of Life� by Barbara Kafka (Artisan, $35). All soups, all the time. 2/ 12

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 12

5. “Seductions of Rice� by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Daguid (Artisan, $35). The world in a grain of rice. 7/ 7

Last Week: 7

Weeks on List: 7

6. “Ducasse, Flavors of France� by Alain Ducasse and Linda Dannenberg (Artisan, $50). Ambitious home-style cooking from the six-star chef. 6/ 9

Last Week: 6

Weeks on List: 9

7. “Chili Nation� by Jane Stern and Michael Stern (Broadway Books, paperback, $12). Chili recipes from throughout the U.S. -- /1

Last Week: -

Weeks on List: 1

8. “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. --/ 3

Last Week: -

Weeks on List: 3

9. “Jean-Georges� by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman (Broadway Books, $35). Creative restaurant cooking adapted for the home kitchen. 5/ 18

Last Week: 5

Weeks on List: 18

10. “Saveur Cooks Authentic American� by the editors of Saveur Magazine (Chronicle Books, $40). A celebration of American cooking in photographs and recipes. 10/ 6

Last Week: 10

Weeks on List: 6

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