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Something you may not know is that in June 2008 Gourmet Magazine began a cookbook club. They choose one cookbook each month, review it and share a few recipes from the book. My interest was piqued when I first read about this because the editor's said that they were basically tired of wading though the hundreds nay thousands of cookbooks that are published every year and buying ones that turn out to be mediocre or worse. (That is my paraphrase from memories of reading it 6 months ago, I don't want to get anyone in trouble)

I share their sentiments, and more so, I find it really hard to go into a bookstore and blindly pick out a cookbook. I rely on cookbooks and other food publications (including my fellow bloggers) for ideas and inspirations, so when I buy something I prefer it to have a low "this might stink" factor.

I love that Gourmet's editors will continue to wade through the mediocrity for me and then let me know what may be worthwhile to try. They comb through hundreds of newly released cookbooks each month, pick out the ones with the most potential, and then heavily test the recipes from each book.

They publish their pick each month in the magazine as well as on their website, which can be found here. Their January 2009 pick is A16: Food + Wine by Nate Appleman, Shelley Lindgren, Kate Leahy.

Any reader can see their monthly pick and read the review. There is more content about the book including a few recipes, as well as content from prior months picks, which you can view if you complete a free registration.

I definitely don't buy every book but I think this is a great resource and worth a few minutes each month to read.

See their monthly club picks for 2008 after the jump:

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