The Gathering Place: Informal International Menus

The result of an international quest for tasty low-fat foods and healthy ingredients, Kerr's creative menus reflect the diverse cuisines of the thirteen ports of call that he and his wife Treena visited on a recent Queen Elizabeth II voyage from New York City to Sydney, Australia. The menus serve as guides for social gatherings of friends who want to share the cooking and sample the flavors of the world together. Each menu includes an appetizer, main course [with a vegetarian alternative when needed], vegetables, side dishes and dessert. The recipes can be used on a "mix and match" basis as well. The book is supplemented with nutritional analyses, sources for unusual ingredients, serving suggestions, and cultural and historical notes, as well as a complete index of recipes, ingredients, and techniques. In addition, a glossary of innovative techniques developed by Kerr will help home cooks reduce harmful fat, sugar, and salt while increasing the flavor, color, and aroma of their dishes.