-- Beats the competition -- covers the basics of food science and techniques a cook should know, plus tips, rules of thumb and other factors for success.-- Line art, photos and recipes.Have you ever started out making a wonderful recipe only to be sidetracked by terms and techniques you didn't understand? Have you wondered why some sugars caramelize and some sugars burn, how to slice those tiny matchstick carrots or make a basic sauce from scratch?...