Restaurateur Douglas earned a James Beard award with Tom Douglas' Seattle Kitchen, and now he returns with 13 menus for entertaining, each with recipes stretching from cocktails and hors d'oeuvres to desserts and wine suggestions. Although the fare is often West Coast–oriented, as with the Whole Salmon on the Grill Stuffed with Sea Salt, Lemon and Onion, Douglas nods to a variety of ethnic meals: A Chinese Feast, which boasts 12 recipes; Grandpa Louie's Dream Greek Vacation, 11 recipes; and Remembering Labuznik, a festive Czech repast with nine inviting components. The grill comes into play often in such dishes as Vine-Roasted Squab with Syrah Jam, Charred Squid Skewers on Garlic Toast with Arugula, and Lamb Chop T-Bones in Crushed Cherry Marinade with Tarragon Mustard. Desserts are as unusual as Cornmeal Rosemary Cake with Lemon Glaze, and Persimmon Pudding with Pear Brandy Hard Sauce and Pear Vanilla Sauce, Sugared Cranberries and Sugared Mint Leaves. As the recipe names suggest, these menus are extremely full-flavored and palate-pleasing. Within reach of most cooks, Douglas's meals do require a fair amount of time, but to mitigate this, make-ahead notes supplement a large number of recipes. Ambitious home cooks looking for new ways to entertain in high culinary style will find an abundance of fresh ideas here. (Nov.)
