Los Angeles Times Cookbook Hot List

1. “How To Cook Everything,” by Mark Bittman (MacMillan, $25). A fresh approach to the cooking encyclopedia, with more than 1,500 recipes.

Last week: 5

Weeks on list: 15

2. “Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone,” by Deborah Madison (Broadway Books, $40). Vegetarian cookbook with 1,400 recipes and sections on ingredients and cooking methods.

Last week: 1

Weeks on list: 48

3. “The Pie and Pastry Bible,” by Rose Levy Beranbaum (Scribner, $35). Another masterwork from America’s most obsessive cookbook writer.

Last week: 2

Weeks on list: 9

4. “Soup: A Way of Life,” by Barbara Kafka (Artisan, $35). All soups, all the time.

Last week: 3

Weeks on list: 9

5. “Jean-Georges,” by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman (Broadway Books, $35). Creative restaurant cooking adapted for the home kitchen.

Last week: 4

Weeks on list: 15

6. “Emeril’s TV Dinners,” By Emeril Lagasse, Marcelle Bienvenue, Felicia Willett and Brian Smale (William Morrow, $25). The “bam” of that N’Awlins man.

Last week: 6

Weeks on list: 14

7. “Taste for Living: Mike Milken’s Favorite Recipes for Fighting Cancer,” by Beth Ginsberg and Mike Milken (Allen & Osborne Inc., $27.50). The former junk-bond king’s favorite low-fat recipes.

Last week: 8

Weeks on list: 12

8. “Seductions of Rice,” by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Daguid (Artisan, $35). The world in a grain of rice.

Last week: 10

Weeks on list: 4

9. “Ducasse, Flavors of France,” by Alain Ducasse and Linda Dannenberg (Artisan, $50). Ambitious home-style cooking from the six-star chef.

Last week: 7

Weeks on list: 6

10. “Saveur Cooks Authentic American,” by the editors of Saveur Magazine (Chronicle Books, $40). A celebration of American cooking in photographs and recipes.

Last week: 9

Weeks on list: 5

Rankings are based on a Times poll of national cookbook and independent booksellers.