Los Angeles Times Cookbook Hot List

1. “Born to Grill,” by Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison (Harvard Common Press, $27.95). American barbecue cookery.

LAST WEEK: 1

WEEKS ON LIST: 7

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: 2

WEEKS ON LIST: 22

3. “Flavors of Tuscany,” by Nancy Harmon Jenkins (Broadway Books, $27.50). Recipes from Italy’s most popular food region, plus the history and culture behind the dishes.

LAST WEEK: 4

WEEKS ON LIST: 2

4. “Rao’s Cookbook,” by Frank Pellegrino (Random House, $40). Recipes from New York’s tiny and exclusive Italian restaurant.

LAST WEEK: 5

WEEKS ON LIST: 8

5. “Vegetables,” by James Peterson (Morrow, $35). More than 300 recipes, plus step-by-step preparation techniques and advice on buying and storing vegetables.

LAST WEEK: --

WEEKS ON LIST: 1

6. “The New Making of a Cook,” by Madeleine Kamman (Morrow, $40). Monumental revision of a cookbook classic. Guide to cooking techniques and the whys of cooking with recipes.

LAST WEEK: --

WEEKS ON LIST: 23

7. “Elizabeth David Classics,” by Elizabeth David (Biscuit Books, $14.98). Three books--”Mediterranean Food,” “French Country Cooking” and “Summer Cooking”--in one volume from the late English food writer.

LAST WEEK: 7

WEEKS ON LIST: 6

8. “Marcella Cucina,” by Marcella Hazan (HarperCollins, $35). The woman who taught America how to cook Italian gets personal with recipes that show how she cooks at home.

LAST WEEK: 8

WEEKS ON LIST: 18

9. “Intimate Gatherings,” by Ellen Rose and Jessica Strand (Chronicle, $18.95). Seasonal menus for small dinner parties. 10 / 2

LAST WEEK: 10

WEEKS ON LIST: 2

10. “The Fearless Frying Cookbook,’ by John Martin Taylor (Workman, $10.95, paperback). A celebration of the crisp and the golden, of the deep-fried, pan-fried and stir-fried.

LAST WEEK: --

WEEKS ON LIST: 2

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