Meat:
Everything You Need to Know
Pat LaFreida. Atria, $50 (224p) ISBN 978-1-
4767-2599-4
A purveyor to many of NYC’s high profile chefs, LaFreida may be the first celebrity butcher. His family’s business has
been around for nearly 100 years, and here
he takes readers behind the counter to
show them what to look for and what to
avoid when buying meat, as well as advice
on how to prepare it—there are 75 recipes
covering everything from common fare
such as meat loaf, burgers, and sausage to
show-stoppers like a beef Wellington with
mushroom cream sauce, and a roasted
calf’s head with whipped brain puree.
LaFreida’s emphasis is in educating readers
on the various animals, diagramming cuts,
and showing how to best utilize them.
Tips like how to break down a chicken or
cut pockets in veal or pork chops for stuffing make this a valuable reference that
will give readers a greater appreciation for
not only their favorite cuts of meat, but
their butcher as well. (Sept.)
In a Nutshell: Cooking and Baking
with Nuts and Seeds
Cara Tannenbaum and Andnrea Tutunjian.
Norton, $29.95 (352p) ISBN 978-0-393-
06558-9
Whether readers are vegetarians in
search of new ways to incorporate protein
and fiber-rich nuts and seeds into their
diets or omnivores interested in broaden-
ing their culinary horizons, culinary in-
structors Tannenbaum and Tutunjian of-
fer more than 250 recipes, highlighting
the versatility of almonds, hazelnuts,
pumpkin seeds and the like. Expected fare
such as roasted nuts, granola, hummus,
and moles are included, but the authors
offer much more than pesto and veggie
burgers—their imaginative dishes in-
cludes a Spanish almond gazpacho that
calls for Marcona almonds; toasted al-
mond ice cream popsicles; and a creamy
vegetable casserole with a crunchy hazel-
nut topping. Emulsified cashews, for ex-
ample, are used to add body and richness
to a cauliflower chowder as well as Vata-
pa, a Brazilian fish stew redolent with
ginger, jalapenos and coconut; poppy
seeds are added to cooked noodles cara-
melized onions for Hungarian Poppy
Noodles; and chopped pecans are used to
building journeys. After providing a
framework for thinking about leadership
and the titular pivot points, she dedicates
chapters to each of these leaders (who also
include John Rogers of Ariel Investments
and Al Golin of GolinHarris), showing
how decisions shape a leader over the
course of a career. Each leader grappled
with different areas of leadership—ideas,
change, teams, culture, and passion—and
cumulatively they provide a well-rounded
perspective on leadership challenges. Pe-
ters also examines common themes from
very different career trajectories, and
shares survey research on how people
make major decisions. This informative
and helpful book offers a refreshing look
at effective leadership that will interest
readers at any career stage. (June)
Lifestyle
Food
Death & Co:
Modern Classic Cocktails
David Kaplan, Nick Faulchal, and Alex Day. Ten
Speed, $40 (320p) ISBN 978-1-60774-525-9
Kaplan and his staff only had a few
days to get their sea legs after their New
York City craft cocktail bar Death & Co
opened on New Year’s Day, 2007. A few
days later, they found themselves on the
front page of the Sunday New York Times.
Here, Kaplan, his cohorts, and regulars,
show why Death & Co is frequently
named one of the best cocktail bars in the
world. Over the course of the book’s dense
(but highly readable) pages, he shares his
infectious enthusiasm for his craft as well
as recipes for almost 500 cocktails. Everything from choosing the right ingredients
and tools—even the ice—is covered, ensuring readers are well-stocked and well-prepared. Those expecting the ultimate
collection of cocktail recipes will be disappointed, but those with a palate for experimentation will have a field day with
symphonic recipes for classics, from the
Corpse Reviver #2, Mojito, and Rusty
Nail to originals like the Joy Division, a
riff on the classic gin martini with Cointreau and absinthe; and then there’s the
Stolen Huffy, a spicy combination of Thai
chile-infused rye, mescal, sweet vermouth
and curaçao. A perfect book for amateur
and advanced mixologists alike. (Oct.)
Americans, keeping them in the best circles. The book’s second half explores political intrigue, highlighting the transnational competition for control of the vast
western territory of the North American
continent. The Americans ultimately won
that contest, and thanks to Furstenberg’s
riveting history, we now have a better
idea why. Illus. (July)
Have a Nice Guilt Trip
Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Scottoline
Serritella. St. Martin’s, $24.99 (288p) ISBN
978 0-312-64009-5
Popular mystery writer Scottoline and
her Philadelphia Inquirer columnist daughter Serritella team up for the fourth time
to offer a lively collection of 80 short essays on everything from raising puppies to
the proper way to make eggplant parm.
Though Scottoline penned the majority of
the essays in this volume, 27-year-old Serritella’s contributions display her own
brand of humor and sweetness. Scottoline—prone to comedic one-liners—
makes the pages fly by in a flurry of
laughs. Serritella’s ode to her 90-year-old
grandmother (affectionately referred to as
Mother Mary) and her writings about her
dog Pip are especially endearing. Scottoline is on-target and hilarious, whether
she’s writing about politics (her piece on
Anthony Weiner is a standout), ex-husbands (“Thing One and Thing Two”), or
what it’s like to sleep with five dogs.
While Serritella deals with dating, roller-blading, and Facebook, Scottoline, whose
“butt is already on social security,” considers joining AARP. Their close-knit, outspoken Italian family is also the subject of
a number of laugh-inducing selections.
(July)
Pivot Points: Five Decisions Every
Successful Leader Must Make
Julia Tang Peters. Wiley, $25 (256p) ISBN 978-
1-1188-9473-6
Leadership and management consultant
Peters offers a breath of fresh air on the
common topic of leadership strategies by
focusing on decision-making. Interviewing five successful leaders—including
Bud Frankel of Frankel & Company, Glen
Tullman at 7wire Ventures, and Dale
Dawson of Bridge2Rwanda—she discovers that each made exactly five decisions
that turned their careers into leadership-
