The recipients of the Julia Child Cookbook Awards for the best books on food and beverages published during 1997 were announced April 22 during the annual conference of the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).
Julia Child presented the Best Cookbook of the Year award to Deborah Madison, author of "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone" (Broadway Books, $40).Madison's book was the winner in the General Category, covering multiple-subject recipe books, all-purpose cookbooks and personal recipe collections.
The IACP describes itself as an organization of about 4,000 members worldwide, "dedicated to promoting the highest level of culinary professionalism."
Winners in other categories of awards were:
- American Category: Food Network Award (books on ethnic, cultural or regional cooking in the U.S.) to "Cocina de la Familia: More than 200 Authentic Recipes from Mexican-American Home Kitchens" (Simon & Schuster, $27.50) by Marilyn Tausend with Miguel Ravago.
- Bread, Other Baking and Sweets Category: KitchenAid Award (books on desserts, confections, and sweet or savory pastries or doughs) to "The Chocolate Bible" (Penguin Studio, $29.95) by Christian Teubner.
-Chefs and Restaurants Category: Food & Wine Magazine Award (books by or about chefs, recipes from chefs, or cuisine of a specific restaurant): "Alfred Portale's Gotham Bar and Grill Cookbook" (Doubleday, $24.95) by Alfred Portale with Andrew Friedman.
- First Book Category: The Julia Child Award to "The Best Bread Ever: Great Homemade Breads Using Your Food Processor" (Broadway Books, $27.50) by Charles van Over.
- Food Reference/Technical Category award: (books on culinary terms, histories, techniques or ingredients) to "Heirloom Vegetable Gardening: A Master Gardener's Guide to Planting, Growing, Seed Saving, and Cultural History" (Henry Holt, $45) by William Woys Weaver.
- Health and Special Diet Category: Bertolli Olive Oil Award (books on healthful eating, nutrition, dietary concerns, and special or restrictive diets) to "Positive Cooking: Cooking for People Living With HIV" (Avery, $12.95) by Lisa McMillan, Jill Jarvie and Janet Brauer.
- International Category award: (books on particular geographical regions or cultural identities outside the U.S.) to "Marcella Cucina" (HarperCollins, $35) by Marcella Hazan.
- Literary Food Writing Category: Borders Award (nonfiction or fiction food or beverage books distinguished by quality of prose) to "The Man Who Ate Everything: And Other Gastronomic Feats, Disputes, and Pleasurable Pursuits" (Knopf, $27.50) by Jeffrey Steingarten.
- Single Subject Category award: (books on specific foods, cooking methods, techniques or appliances) to "The Splendid Grain" (William Morrow, $30) by Rebecca Wood.
- Wine and Spirits Category: Beaulieu Vineyard Award (books on the history, evaluation or production of alcoholic beverages; mixology; or serving or pairing with food) to "Aperitif: Recipes for Simple Pleasures in the French Style" (Chronicle, $24.95) by Georgeanne Brennan.