It is easy for a chef to fall into a creative rut, so look to a poultry cookbook directory resource for assistance. Cookbooks are the key to creating diversity in your menu. Whether you are the chef of a restaurant or food service institute, it is imperative to your business’s success that you offer variety. Specialty cookbooks allow you to experiment with different recipes, and sometimes add your own twist.

With the Internet, it's easier than ever to search for a poultry cookbook provider. Finding the right cookbook for your needs proves slightly more challenging. Cookbooks give you ideas for recipes, but they also help you develop your own unique recipes. In many ways, mastering classic recipes is the best foundation for a chef’s training. When searching for poultry cookbook information, remember the following:

1. Chefs of food service institutes should choose from a poultry cookbook list with accommodating yields. Some recipes may not convert well, so make sure the cookbook you choose works for your size establishment.

2. Don’t be afraid of including old fashioned recipes in your menu selection. Many tried and true recipes are favorites when prepared well.

3. The cookbooks that you choose should reflect your skill level, your schedule, and your budget.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pick poultry cookbook recipes that reflect the style of your establishment

With so many wonderful recipes out there, it's tempting to choose all that look appealing. However, make sure the recipes you choose reflect the character of your establishment. Guests have expectations when they select a restaurant, so unless you're confident you can pleasantly surprise them, don't choose recipes that challenge your restaurant's concept.

I recommend: The Complete Book of Chicken: Turkey, Game Hen, Duck, Goose, Quail, Squab, and Pheasant offers extensive instructions and clear illustrations on preparing poultry dishes, including carving, stuffing a goose, and butterflying Cornish game hens. Chicken and Poultry Cookbook offers a diverse selection of poultry recipes.

Review recipes in each poultry cookbook and make sure the ingredients are easy to find

There's nothing better than a unique recipe with a unique taste. But if producing such a dish requires ingredients that are difficult to get, it may not be worth it. For this reason, you may want to steer away from cookbooks with recipes that require hard-to-find herbs and spices, or certain seasonal or regional produce and food items.

I recommend: The Cook's Illustrated Complete Book of Poultry is exactly that: a mixture of classic and contemporary poultry recipes. Betty Crocker's Best Chicken Cookbook features a diverse assortment of recipes, including pot pie, creamed chicken, and classic BBQ.

Continue to update and enhance your poultry cookbook collection

You may assume that you have a pretty substantial cookbook collection, but recipes are continuously enhanced and updated. Stay abreast of the newest creations, but don't forget the classics.

I recommend: Creative Cooking Poultry: A Treasury of More Than 500 Easy-to-follow Recipes and Delicious Poultry Dishes is an exhaustive resource of fresh ideas. The Good Cook Poultry Cookbook provides detailed instruction on a diverse selection of methods, including pan frying, roasting and grilling, and braising.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join an association or club for poultry lovers to help find poultry cookbook recommendations, recipes and other information.