i have been a vegetarian since 1987 (now lacto-ovo, but at times i was a vegan) and a real fan of gourmet vegetarian food. luckily vegetarian kichen leaves alot of room to the imagination and offers the opportunity for very creative dishes.

here is a list of my favorite cookbooks and souces of inspiration:

1. denis cotter: paradiso seasons - isbn 0-9535353-4-7

a great book structured in seasons with totally delicious and imaginative dishes created by the superb gormet vegetarian chef denis cotter of the cafe paradiso in cork, ireland

2. pietro leemann: joia - 88-86116-59-4

pietro leemann is a swiss chef who learned his trade in italy and japan and now has the unbelievable restaurant joia in milano, italy. his kitchen is as much a visual as treat - with a strong japanese aesthetic - as it is great to eat.

3. eric tucker & john westerdahl: the millenium cookbook - isbn 0-89815-899-0

eric tucker with his totally amazing millenium restaurant in san francisco, california is who first made me discover gourmet vegetarian cuisine. the recipes are relatively complicated to make, but they keep getting more crazy and wild in the trademark california fusion style

4. eric tucker & bruce enloe: the artful vegan - isbn 1-58008-207-6

book number two from the mythic millenium restaurant. this book is completely vegan yet just as creative and excellent. the deserts are killing me.

5 denis cotter: the cafe paradiso - isbn 0-9535353-0-4

this was the first book from the cafe paradiso. compared to the paradiso seasons its a bit timid, yet already very inspiring.

6 elisabeth fischer: die internationale vegetarische küche - isbn 3-570-01038-4

one of my first vegetarian cookbooks, but one i still use often. its in german and its from keyno restaurant in munich germany. the book is organised after ethnicity: spanish, french, italian, german, greek, arabic, indian, thai, chinese, japanese, mexican and caribean cuisine.

7 hagler & bates: the new farm vegetarian cookbook - isbn 0-913990-60-4

this is my very first vegetarian cookbook issued by the legendary the farm - vegan collective in tennessee. nothing beats their vegan macaroni and “cheese” recipe. not gourmet. but cult!

8 rose gray & ruth rogers: river cafe cook book easy - isbn 009188464-0

warning: not vegetarian per se. but the river cafe chefs are such excellent food handlers that as a vegetarian there are tons of fantastic recipes to make. creative italian - quick and easy.

and thats all. for now!

please feel free to sen me info on other interesting vegetarian cookbooks via Contact