Crave: The Feast of the Five Senses

Lefebvre, an intense young chef who trained in France before coming to the U.S. to cook at L'Orangerie in L.A., is passionate about the sensual cooking experience. His enthusiasm is infectious, and this volume stands as a convincing argument that cooking can be as exhilarating as surfing (which, he explains, is his second love), awakening the senses and making the cook feel more alive. His recipes, which range from basic to complex, are categorized by sense; there are chapters on sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste. Of course, Lefebvre explains,""there's a lot of crossover... what's the point of creating the most beautiful dish in the world if it has no flavor?"" A simple Cream of Broccoli Soup in the sight chapter is an""exercise in preserving the color of vegetables."" The smell chapter celebrates all that's aromatic with such recipes as White Sea Bass with Roasted Figs and Four Spices. Cote de Boeuf with brown sugar, herb salad, and Pommes Souffles, an entry in the hearing chapter, sizzles fiercely as it's cooked. The intriguing recipes are only part of what's appealing about this book, which could help bring a vivacious spark to the most mundane of cooking routines.