One day, back in the summer of 1992, I decided I wanted to make a television food show. I wasn't going to let the fact that I was little more than a hobbyist get in the way. The odyssey that followed became the program "Good Eats," which has managed to hold its own on the Food Network for over a decade. (It even won a Peabody Award, which is a pretty big deal.)

Good Eats: The Early Years is an encyclopedic work encompassing the show's first 80 episodes, from "Steak Your Claim" to "Casserole Over." Each show has its very own chapter, complete with remastered recipes, behind-the-scenes photos and lore, stunningly sophomoric illustrations, poetic narrative, and plenty of useful facts cleverly packaged in the form of knowledge concentrates (patent pending). We've even included bonus recipes that we've been selfishly hoarding over the years. Best of all, we've addressed a few nagging anomalies that have been chafing at our collective culinary conscience for all this time. Nothing big, mind you, but it does feel good to set a few things straight.

If you're a "Good Eats" fan, a cook, someone who eats, or just a sentient creature passing through the solar system, you'll want your very own copy of Good Eats: The Early Years. And don't worry, Good Eats: The Middle Ages is in the works as we speak.

May the food be with you.
--Alton Brown