Information Commons: Culinary Arts : Reference Sources

What is a Reference Source?

Reference Sources provide quick answers to research questions. They are not meant to be read in full but are referred to on an as-needed basis. Examples of physical reference sources are dictionaries and encyclopedias. There are many free reference sources available online. One popular source is Wikipedia. Contrary to popular belief, Wikipedia is an edited source, usually with quite reliable information. However, Wikipedia's greatest assets are the References and Further Reading sections at the bottom of each article. These sections provide a great opportunity to find more research sources. In addition, the below reference sources are of particular use for culinary arts research:

Chef's Companion: A Quick Study Digital Reference Guide by Cynthia Parzych
Call Number: Online
ISBN: 9781423239765
Publication Date: 2018
Chef's Guide to Sauces and Dips: A QuickStudy Digital Reference by Jay Weinstein
Call Number: Online
ISBN: 9781423241775
Publication Date: 2019
Chef's Guide to Herbs and Spices: A QuickStudy Reference Guide by Jay Weinstein
Call Number: Online
ISBN: 9781423239772
Publication Date: 2018
Chef's Guide to Meat, Poultry and Seafood: A QuickStudy Digital Reference by Kathleen Grathwol
Call Number: Online
ISBN: 9781423241768
Publication Date: 2019

Basics at a Glance
This handy document provides a quick reference for culinary measurements and abbreviations.
CIA World Factbook
The World Factbook provides information on the history, people and society, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. The Reference tab includes: a variety of world, regional, country, ocean, and time zone maps; Flags of the World; and a Country Comparison function that ranks the country information and data in more than 75 Factbook fields.
The Cook's Thesaurus
"The Cook's Thesaurus is a cooking encyclopedia that covers thousands of ingredients and kitchen tools. Entries include pictures, descriptions, synonyms, pronunciations, and suggested substitutions. "
Credo Research Quick Tips (Research Videos)
Learn and develop lifelong skills to find, evaluate and use information effectively.
Empower your research process with these videos.
Encyclopedia of Food
This encyclopedia includes the origins, nutritional information, storage, and preparation advice for various ingredients.
Sanitarium: Nutrition Dictionary
Run by the Sanitarium Health Food Company out of New Zealand, this dictionary provides definitions for nutrition terminology.
Spices: Exotic Flavors and Medicines
This directory, run by the Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library at UCLA, provides information on a number of spices, including their origin, medicinal, and culinary uses.