Asian Grill

Twelve recipes stock this short but solid cookbook, an appealing digression from standard American grilling, and good company for other specialty grilling guides. The work--which includes an introduction to relevant Asian staples and ways of cooking grill items, as well as a concluding section that tours mail-order sources--highlights Vietnamese foods (pork kabobs with dipping sauce), Korean dishes (barbecued beef), familiar Japanese entries (chicken teriyaki) and Thai favorites, from ``Dancing Prawns with Cilantro Sauce'' to Thai-styled barbecued chicken, among others. With the mounting number of grill books available, many cooks will welcome the opportunity, courtesy of Chronicle, to choose among many distinct cuisines. However, others may prefer to choose one standard and inclusive book that takes in many different styles of food. The book is the first in a new series by the publisher devoted to grilling around the world. (June)