The Top Ten Historical Locations of the Old West

Wyatt Earp and Tombstone, Wild Bill Hickok and Deadwood, George Custer and the Little Big Horn, Davy Crockett and the Alamo, Bat Masterson and Dodge City; Names and locations forever linked to the legacy and myth of the Old West.

Through hundreds of photographs and illustrations, O’Connor delivers a concise, light-hearted yet accurate depiction of a pivotal event in the settlement of the American frontier, and what the location offers today’s visitor, with particular attention devoted to surviving structures, including authentic saloons!

Whether planning a road trip, or simply interested in America’s Old West history and culture, the reader is provided an entertaining, and informative look into the locations that shaped the history and myth of the Wild West.

The Rice Tree Chronicles

A friend once asked the author how many countries I had visited and what was on my bucket list, and his reply was that it wasn’t filled with things or places, but with people like “The Walnut Man” or “The Albeeno Aborigine” and the Ladyboy in “Bangkok Confidential” that he had met along the way and the stories that they shared about themselves. If anything, a little bit of luck, patience, and an ear for listening have made all the difference in seeing the world through a different set of lenses.

The richness of travel is in each footstep taken like walking el Camino de Santiago in Spain, where each day is a new adventure along an 800-kilometer trail filled with stories of personal challenge, hardships overcome, immense satisfaction, and a bookmark in the lives of people from all corners of the world.

Each story, each memoir is merely a point in time in someone’s life and the reward was having it handed to you as a gift.

The NYC Quarantine Cookbook

Discover the unique flavors and heartwarming stories behind The NYC Quarantine Cookbook. This culinary journey is a tribute to the resiliency of New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Indulge in 95 original recipes that capture the essence of the quarantine experience, from comforting classics to innovative creations.

Beyond just a cookbook, this delightful read is filled with humorous and heartfelt vignettes that bring to life the challenges and triumphs of navigating life under quarantine in the city that never sleeps. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or a newbie in the kitchen, The NYC Quarantine Cookbook is an inspiring and mouthwatering addition to your culinary collection.

The Golden Hour

How did the old Chinese restaurants become so ubiquitous in American culture? Prior to the 1980s, over 40,000 Chinese-American restaurants supplied the USA with dishes like Egg Foo Young, Sweet and Sour Pork, Chicken Chow Mein, and Moo Goo Gai Pan. All these iconic dishes were Americanized versions of Cantonese foods. This book describes how this phenomenon took place and contains over 150 recipes so that you can replicate the dishes of The Golden Hour Restaurant.

The Golden Hour is representative of these historic restaurants which not only prospered in large cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Dallas, but also in small towns like Turlock, where The Golden Hour was located in California’s agricultural Central Valley. These old Americanized Chinese restaurants have largely been replaced by more authentic Chinese cuisines. These older dishes and restaurants are on the verge of extinction as the subsequent generations growing up in these restaurants sought other professions. This book presents the culture, stories, and the recipes of this phenomenon.

The Food Good Cookbook

The ultimate cookbook for healthy eating, portrayed in reimagined and lightened comfort food, by Jim Mumford, creator of Jim Cooks Food Good. To Jim, food is a love language, and one of the only things in existence that can supply physical, emotional, and sometimes even spiritual needs (try his lasagna if you doubt the spiritual part). The best things we eat contain a little love, and a little balance. The 50+ recipes in The Food Good Cookbook are created with love and balance in mind. They are intended to be comforting, yet mindful of dietary and caloric preferences. The recipes are meant to be cooked with minimal fuss yet are full of opportunities to try something new. These elements are the heart of what truly encompasses Healthy Comfort Food.

Spices of Life and Herbs, Too!

Spices & Herbs: what’s the difference?

Spices are hot and spicy, and herbs are, well, ‘herby,’ right? Not exactly. Spices come from the seeds of a plant, but herbs come from the leaves or roots. So, juniper, vanilla, coffee, and chocolate, are spices, but not spicy, whereas curry leaves and ginger, though quite spicy, are herbs. A good reason for abandoning the distinction, as I have done in this cookbook.

Spices of Life and Herbs, Too! contains 87 recipes, each featuring a different herb or spice (or several), and each with ‘locked-in tastes.’ The book also contains my ‘alphabet’ of spices and herbs, from A to Z, which answers questions such as:

Which is the most expensive spice on the planet?

Answer: Saffron, which comes from crocuses. And how many crocuses do you need to make a kilo of saffron? Answer: 77,000!

Which is the real Spice of Life?

Answer: ‘Spice of Life’ is the nickname of Sumac, ground from the fruits of the Rhus tree, sometimes known as the Tree of Heaven.

Which is the most popular spice in the world?

Answer: Pepper, which comes in many varieties: black, white, pink, red and green.

Which spice was considered as valuable as Manhattan?

Answer: Nutmeg. The only source of Nutmeg used to be the Banda Islands, now part of Indonesia, Once controlled by the British but coveted by the Dutch, these islands were swapped for Manhattan, which Henry Hudson had already claimed for the Dutch Trading Company. The 1647 treaty gave the British control of the whole Hudson River area, whilst the Dutch gained a monopoly supply of their beloved nutmeg.

Miss Sweetblack's Cupcakes

In the 1950s, the cupcake was a very fashionable cake made by housewives to celebrate family events. Despite its success at the time and its incredible cuteness, the cupcake has gone largely underappreciated. It has come to be seen as a simple household pastry. And although it is finally integrated into certain establishments specializing in cake design, unfortunately it still suffers from a rather bad reputation. It is certainly considered aesthetic — cute, even — but also too fatty, too sweet, and without real taste, sophistication, or refinement.

Here is a book that will deconstruct all your received ideas about the cupcake and make you see and appreciate them like real pastries; those you like to see in French patisseries or restaurants, presented in lovely and delicates plates. Yes, the time has come finally to elevate cupcakes as integral part of pastries thanks to the recipes of the one and only pin-up pastry chef, Miss Sweetblack!

Keyboard of the Winds

Embark on an enthralling global adventure with this book, showcasing mountaineering in some of the world’s most magnificent and demanding terrains. Encounter an eclectic group of mountaineers as they tackle treacherous climbs along perilous paths, where every ascent is fraught with uncertainty. The author masterfully paints a vivid picture of these harrowing experiences, holding you captive in a world of exhilarating suspense. Delight in the exhilaration of traversing majestic mountains, from the Rockies and Cascades to the Alaska Range, Alps, and Himalayas, each described with breathtaking beauty and awe-inspiring scenery.

More than a tale of mountaineering, Keyboard of the Winds is a historical odyssey set in America, spanning the broad vistas of the 20th Century. Witness the lives of the characters as they evolve through realistic, sometimes humorous, and poignant moments, encapsulating life in America and Europe during the transformative decades of the 1960s and 1970s. This book not only captures the spirit of late Twentieth Century life but also the enduring human spirit of adventure and discovery.

From Many We Are One

From Many We Are One reveals the never-before told story of the rebirth and globalization of American Cuisine, as influenced by iconic restaurants, shaped by passionate individuals and enriched by education. A journey through ground-breaking periods illustrates the roller-coaster development of cooking in America.

The book details historic events, food and wine competitions and the California food revolution, whose combined energies fueled this movement and catapulted American food and wines to the top of global prominence. Seminal events hosting the Queen of England and the Hyde Park Summit with Presidents Clinton and Boris Yeltsin, serve to elevate American cuisine to center stage.

As President of the Culinary Institute of America I was fortunate to not only observe, but to actively participate in the education and nurturing of American chefs as evidenced by the legions of industry-leading CIA graduates.

While cooking at Le Pavillon, at the time the best restaurant in America, I experienced the highest level of excellence, which shaped and dominated my emerging philosophy and appreciation of food and hospitality all shared in this book.

A critical look at the industry recollects the impact of fast food, the positive professionalization of chefs, while questioning the lamentable status and struggles of women and African American chefs and the media’s reluctance to recognize their contributions to American cuisine. New emerging culinary concepts like Molecular, Fusion and Nouvelle cuisine are debated for their lasting and realistic impact on cooking.

Lastly, the legacy of food in America is scrutinized for its contributions to gustatory benefits and their contrasting effects on the status on public health.

16 Sites and Places To Go!

Embark on a captivating literary journey with 16 Sites and Places to Go!, as author Idea Mesano skillfully delves into the intricate tapestry of human traits, cultures, and mentalities. Through evocative prose, Mesano invites readers to explore the diverse backgrounds and vivid memories of native and local inhabitants, unearthing the rich tapestry of their histories, present experiences, and future aspirations. In this thought-provoking collection, Mesano delves into the essence of human achievement, intricately intertwined with consciousness, rationality, and self-awareness. Each individual’s unique path is shaped by their race, ethnicity, and personal nature, which vary in accordance with intuition, secrecy, and sometimes even deceitfulness. The convergence of destinies awaits a transformative passage that lies just beyond the horizon.