What this book is not: It isn't a traditional cookbook. What you will not find in this book: Recipes for any of the meals and desserts on the cover. Those were made by professional chefs in fantastic establishments, and have been consumed by countless people, myself included, all of whom paid top Dollar for the pleasure. What you will find in this book: The story behind whatever's on each page; a list of ingredients; a "method"; and a couple of interesting web sites. Oh, and some cookery terms. I am a writer, not a cook - are these the hands of a cook? I am good at a few things. Cooking, baking, and other things of a domestic nature are not my strong points but I am brave, creative, and reasonably competent. But I don't really cook. Or bake. Or blanch - what's that anyway? "Make white" or "anything goes" as in carte blanche? I come from a line of great cooks, and have had several good cooks in my midst who feed me and others, so why, pray, do I need to jump on this particular bandwagon.I know which things I'm good at, hence this book. "It's not about the recipes; it's about the stories". Trust me, I'm a writer.