Although I hope there will be many more books from this great lady of food letters, My Mexico will stand as a fine summing-up if she doesn't get around to writing them. Kennedy, an American, conquered Mexico with her scholarship and grace. Acknowledged to be the preeminent explainer of Mexican cuisine, she ranges over the whole country to give readers a freshly minted view of a place often shrouded in stereotype. The recipes she turns up are by turns robust and elegant. Her narrative is consistently wise.
Powerful evidence follows.
The distinguished chef at the Trellis restaurant in Williamsburg, who last year brought forth Death by Chocolate Cookies, now presents a collection of bold salads for diners of large appetite. Here are 604 pages of hearty recipes and good advice from a couple of guys who can really get their teeth into a subject when that subject is beef, pork, lamb, or veal. These days you never know when a deer, wild goose, or rabbit is going to show up in your backyard to have at your tomatoes, corn, or lettuce. Defend your property by buying Wild About Game, a very shrewd book featuring 150 recipes. Nobody but the celebrated Boston-based chef could dream up so many uses for this gift from the sea.