Union Square Cafe Cookbook Ri: 160 Favorite Recipes from New York's Acclaimed Restaurant

Owner and executive chef, respectively, of Manhattan's lauded Union Square Cafe, founded in 1985, Meyer and Romano here open the kitchen door to readers curious about what goes into the restaurant's mingling of French, Italian and other cuisines. Their pumpkin flan, for example, is accompanied by whipped cream flavored with cinnamon; their bread salad can serve as a meal, a side or stuffing for roast meats. The book addresses appetizers, sandwiches, desserts, main courses, vegetables; a chapter called ``Pantry Staples'' gives recipes for stocks, sauces, mayonnaise and more. Especially impressive are their soft-shell crabs with carrot sauce; charred tomatoes, onions and mint; and mocha semifreddo with hazelnut dacquoise. Photos. 50,000 first printing; author tour; Homestyle Book Club main selection. (Oct.)