This is not a cookbook. Yes, yes, it says "The Cookbook" in the title, but for anyone who has used more than one cookbook, they'll quickly see this is a great behind-the-scenes book, but a terrible cookbook.

I love Top Chef the show. So, I am enjoying reading the bits and pieces about the contestants, the judges' thoughts, etc. However, I'm more than two-thirds through the book, and there are only two recipes I'm interested in: a braised pork with tomato marmalade (which I've made before and is really good) and Ilan's fideo and clams.

Remember, these are recipes created with serious boundaries: make breakfast on a hibachi (but planned for a meal with a full kitchen); cooking with weird proteins (frogs legs and black chicken); cooking with contents from only one grocery aisle.

It's interesting to read the recipes--because they aren't very well-written. The chefs didn't plan to transcribe their menus to recipes, and it shows. There's a randomness and a generality that other cookbooks lack.

For lovers of Top Chef who want to read more about the show, four stars. For a cookbook, one and a half. ( )