I am an avid cook. I agree with much of your assessment. Have you tried Julia Child’s first books “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”? Her books are very in

I am an avid cook. I agree with much of your assessment. Have you tried Julia Child’s first books “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”? Her books are very in depth and start with clearly written descriptions of techniques and what to look for. This does mean that recipes can be many times longer than most other books. Julia Child’s reputation is well earned. She may be one of the first celebrity chefs, but her status came directly from the quality of her research and writing.