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| photo: Steve Klise | |
Jack Bishop is the chief creative officer of America's Test Kitchen. He joined the staff of Cook's Magazine in 1988 and helped with the launch of Cook's Illustrated in 1993. He established the tasting protocols used at America's Test Kitchen and has written dozens of articles for the magazine. Bishop directed the launch of Cook's Country magazine and oversees editorial operations at both magazines. He is the tasting lab expert on America's Test Kitchen, the top-rated public television cooking show, and on Cook's Country from America's Test Kitchen. Bishop established the book division at America's Test Kitchen and he is the author of several cookbooks. America's Test Kitchen's latest cookbook is Master of the Grill: Foolproof Recipes, Top-Rated Gadgets, Gear & Ingredients, Plus Clever Test Kitchen Tips & Fascinating Food Science (April 26, 2016).
On your nightstand now:
Dreamland by Sam Quinones; My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout; Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff; Ghettoside by Jill Leovy; The Sunlit Night by Rebecca Dinerstein.
Favorite book when you were a child:
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.
Your top five authors:
Lorrie Moore, George Eliot, Henry James, Donna Tartt, Anthony Trollope.
Book you've faked reading:
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Sure, the first line (see below) is memorable, but the nuances of the French Revolution are tough going. I faked reading this book in junior high school, and then failed again as a parent trying to read along with my younger daughter when she was assigned this book for school. She eventually finished the book (and loved it). I gave up for a second time.
Book you're an evangelist for:
M Train by Patti Smith.
Book you've bought for the cover:
Peru: The Cookbook by Gastón Acurio.
Book you hid from your parents:
My parents let me read everything.
Book that changed your life:
The first adult book I ever read was Love Story by Erich Segal. I was seven years old and I can remember the feeling of being hooked, for the first time, by a strong narrative. I literally couldn't stop reading this book.
Favorite line from a book:
The first line from A Tale of Two Cities. It's memorable, majestic and very, very long. What a great start.
Five books you'll never part with:
I own thousands of cookbooks. Here are the five that have made the biggest impression on my life in the kitchen:
The Classic Italian Cook Book by Marcella Hazan. This book taught me how to make great food from simple ingredients.
Chez Panisse Pasta, Pizza, and Calzone by Alice Waters. The perfect blend of tradition and innovation.
Bread Alone by Daniel Leader. I can't imagine life without great bread.
Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi. This book captures how I cook now.
Tender by Nigel Slater. I love vegetables and this is my favorite book on the subject--other than my own!
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. The section set in Las Vegas is so original and haunting. And what great characters.