Los Angeles Times Cookbook Hot List

1. “Soup: A Way of Life,” by Barbara Kafka (Artisan, $35). All soups, all the time. 2/ 20

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 20

2. “The New York Times Passover Cookbook,” edited by Linda Amster (William Morrow, $25). Collection of almost 50 years of Seder recipes. 5/ 3

Last Week: 5

Weeks on List: 3

3. “How To Cook Everything,” by Mark Bittman (MacMillan, $25). A fresh approach to the cooking encyclopedia, with more than 1,500 recipes. 3/ 26

Last Week: 3

Weeks on List: 26

4. “Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone,” by Deborah Madison (Broadway Books, $40). Vegetarian cookbook with 1,400 recipes and sections on ingredients and cooking methods. 4/ 59

Last Week: 4

Weeks on List: 59

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. 6/7

Last Week: 6

Weeks on List: 7

6. “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. -- /9

Last Week: --

Weeks on List: 9

7. “Kitchen Sessions With Charlie Trotter,” by Charlie Trotter (Ten Speed Press, $29.95). Companion colume to Trotter’s TV show focuses on preparing fine cuisine at home. 2/ 7

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 7

8. “The Pie and Pastry Bible,” by Rose Levy Beranbaum (Scribner, $35). Another masterwork from America’s most obsessive cookbook writer. 7/ 20

Last Week: 7

Weeks on List: 20

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

Last Week: 8

Weeks on List: 5

10. “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: 24

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