Los Angeles Times Cookbook Hot List

1. “Kitchen Sessions With Charlie Trotter” by Charlie Trotter (Ten Speed Press, $29.95). Companion column to Trotter’s TV show focuses on preparing fine cuisine at home. 1/ 5

2. “Soup: A Way of Life” by Barbara Kafka (Artisan, $35). All soups, all the time. 2/ 18

3. “How To Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman (MacMillan, $25). A fresh approach to the cooking encyclopedia, with more than 1,500 recipes. 4/ 24

4. “Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone” by Deborah Madison (Broadway Books, $40). Vegetarian cookbook with 1,400 recipes and sections on ingredients and cooking methods. 3/ 57

5. “Sophia Loren’s Recipes and Memories” by Sophia Loren (Good Times Publishing, $28). Favorite family recipes and anecdotes from the movie star. 5/ 3

6. “The New York Times Passover Cookbook” edited by Linda Amster (William Morrow, $25). Collection of almost 50 years of Seder recipes. --/ 1

7. “The Pie and Pastry Bible” by Rose Levy Beranbaum (Scribner, $35). Another masterwork from America’s most obsessive cookbook writer. 7/ 18

8. “Jean-Georges” by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman (Broadway Books, $35). Creative restaurant cooking adapted for the home kitchen. 9/ 22

9. “Emeril’s TV Dinners” by Emeril Lagasse, Marcelle Bienvenue, Felicia Willett and Brian Smale (William Morrow, $25). The “bam” of that N’Awlins man. 10/ 18

10. “Lidia’s Italian Table” by Lidia Bastianich (William Morrow, $26). The woman described as “Italy’s great Mom cook” shares some of her recipes. --/ 5

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