Just in time for the June wedding season, Barber and Whiteford have collected 125 elegant recipes especially for newlyweds. These twin sisters, authors of Cocktail Food
and Wraps, have good ideas for everyday meals and, as former owners of Thymes Two catering in San Francisco, they also have infectious enthusiasm for entertaining. Their book starts with chapters on assembling kitchen equipment and pantry staples, and moves on through "basic" recipes (such as stock and pie pastry) to appetizers, soups and salads, entrees, side dishes, sweets and drinks. Additional sections cover breakfast and brunch, quick dinners and desserts, holiday menu planning (with useful do-ahead timetables) and spouse-friendly selections for cooking "side by side." Their recipes can be complicated, however, posing difficulties for harried, first-time cooks. From Warm Artichoke and Green Onion Dip, Caesar Salad with Lemon-Pepper Shrimp, and Beef Burgundy, to Grilled Tuna with Soy Ginger Glaze and Pickled Cucumbers, Wild Mushroom Risotto, and Silken Chocolate Tart, the dishes blend classic with contemporary, formal with informal and cozy American with stylish International. The authors imbue their book with a friendly, Southern tone, which at times can feel old-fashioned. (June)
Forecast:Judging by the traditional-looking cover (two monogrammed spoons against pastel table settings), the publisher is going for more moneyed brides—a market that they will surely tap into.
