By Sur La Table, Andrews McMeel Publishing, $14.00, 124 pages
“When foods are cooked over flame, the natural sugars caramelize, producing that delicious taste you get only from grilling.”
This small-format book on grilling is a true gem and an excellent addition to any kitchen bookshelf if a grill is available. Though small in size, Everyday Grilling was produced with high quality in mind. The professional photo illustrations are beautiful and the paper chosen is high quality glossy, spatter-proof stock. The recipes are well written in logical order and are easy to follow. Most ingredients are readily available though for some recipes you may find yourself on an extended market search.
Many of the 50 recipes are interesting, even unusual, and most are illustrated by photos. These are not recipes for the beginner cook; many will take some serious preparation. The first 19 pages take the reader through the basics: grilling tools, grilling methods, rubs, marinades and sauces. The use of both charcoal and gas grills are well covered and many recipes give instructions for both types. Unfortunately, the index is not well cross referenced and the cook may have problems finding a previously used recipe (e.g. Grilled Swordfish is listed under G but not under S).