50 Ways to Feed Your Lover: America's Top Chefs Share Their Recipes and Secrets for Romance

Fifty well-known chefs impart their gustatory secrets for romance in this gimmicky, though cute, cookbook edited by Sarlin, a New York City caterer, and Saltiel, the food producer for iVillage.com. There's a brief description of each chef--and sometimes his or her love life--accompanying a menu of recipes (which include wine suggestions) for seduction. Most of the food is upscale American, like Wild Mushrooms and Fresh Herbs from Marcel Desaulniers, and Anne Kearney's Grilled Loin of Lamb with Red Wine Sauce. Many dishes rely on traditional aphrodisiacs, such as Oysters Champagne with Kimchi from Marcus Samulesson, and Rozanne Gold's Asparagus and Lemon Pasta with Beluga Caviar. The chefs have touching love stories to tell (Carole Peck first attracted her French husband's interest when she ordered veal kidneys), and those who step outside the normal parameters stand out: Sarabeth Levine proposes a sexy breakfast in bed, and Christina and Robert Pirello offer appealing macrobiotic fare like a Mushroom and Leek Strudel. In the end these recipes prove that while love may be blind, it does have an appetite. (Jan.)