Los Angeles Times Cookbook Hot List

1. “Emeril’s TV Dinners,” By Emeril Lagasse, Marcelle Bienvenue, Felicia Willett and Brian Smale (William Morrow, $25). The “bam” of that N’Awlins man. 3/ 6

Last Week: 3

Weeks on List: 6

2. “Jean-Georges,” by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman (Broadway Books, $35). Creative restaurant cooking adapted for the home kitchen. 1/ 7

Last Week: 1

Weeks on List: 7

3. “The Pie and Pastry Bible,” by Rose Levy Beranbaum (Scribner, $35). Another masterwork from one of America’s most obsessive cookbook writers. --/1

Last Week: --

Weeks on List: !

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

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 40

5. “Dining Out,” by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenberg (John Wiley, $29.95). So what’s it really like to be a restaurant critic? 4/2

Last Week: 4

Weeks on List: 2

6. “Chocolate,” by Nick Malgieri (HarperCollins, $35). Finally, everything you wanted to know about chocolate from one of America’s great baking teachers. 10/ 5

Last Week: 10

Weeks on List: 5

7. “Soup: A Way of Life,” by Barbara Kafka (Artisan, $35). All soups, all the time. --/ 1

Last Week: --

Weeks on List: 1

8. “How To Cook Everything,” by Mark Bittman (MacMillan, $25). A fresh approach to the cooking encyclopedia, with more than 1,500 recipes. 5/ 7

Last Week: 5

Weeks on List: 7

9. “Lidia’s Italian Table,” by Lidia Bastianich (William Morrow, $26). The woman described as “Italy’s great Mom cook” shares some of her recipes. 8/ 3

Last Week: 8

Weeks on List: 3

10. “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. 8/ 4

Last Week: 8

Weeks on List: 4

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