cover image Savannah Seasons

Savannah Seasons

Elizabeth Terry. Clarkson N Potter Publishers, $32.5 (352pp) ISBN 978-0-385-48236-3

The Terrys (mother and daughter) take the cake and then some with their first book. In recipes and anecdotes, they offer home cooks the irresistible combination of hospitality and delicious dining available at the Savannah, Ga., restaurant depicted in John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The dishes seduce with enticing blends of traditional and unexpected tastes-apple in the Cream of Cauliflower Soup, an unexpected spice in Chilled Cinnamon Spiced Shrimp. Many dishes call for Southern ingredients (black-eyed peas, grits, country ham), but the Terrys reach beyond regional roots. Chilled Tomato, Red Pepper and Cucumber Soup balances the sweetness of roasted peppers with the pep of poblano, garlic and basil. Fish and shellfish chapters are particularly strong with items such as Tuna Roasted with Mustard and Pepper, which is first napped with a Lime Mustard Glaze. Also welcome are such tips as the suggestion that roast chicken, shredded while hot, is a successful substitute in crab recipes. Meat and poultry get fewer starring roles, but sauces, both savory and sweet, win applause, while desserts demand encores. They are as rich as Chocolate Cappuccino Mousse Cake or as simple as Ginger Poached Peaches and include such versatile staples as a Sweet Nutmeg Whole Wheat Crust. Illustrations. (June)