A Folk Song History of America: America Through Its Songs

From Jamaican jerked chicken to Polish pirogi, this multicultural ramble explores New York City's ethnic neighborhoods: West Indian Bedford-Stuyvesant, Oriental Flushing, Russian Brighton Beach, Latin Jackson Heights, Middle Eastern Atlantic Avenue, among others. The authors introduce us to shop owners, describe their products, suggest what to order in restaurants and offer many recipes, from Harlem-style candied yams and Saigon Restaurant barbecued shrimp on sugar cane to fettucine carbonara (with tips on storing and preparing pasta from a restaurateer in the Belmont section of the Bronx). A food glossary and directions are provided, although readers should be wary about visiting certain neighborhoods that the authors recommend. Photos not seen by PW. (October)