Biba's Northern Italian Cooking

Biba Caggiano, Bologna-born and raised in the Emiglia-Romagna region, gives her audience the chance to cook like a native in Biba's Northern Italian Cooking. The author of six cookbooks and owner and chef of Biba restaurant in Sacramento, Calif., prepares simple to sumptuous meals, from antipasto to dessert, with dishes for all occasions. First she discusses essential Italian ingredients and equivalents and begins each course section with a brief account of what it entails. Her Green Lasagne Bologna Style, Shellfish Risotto, Pheasant with Gin and Juniper Berries and Pears Poached in Red Wine will lure eager diners to a bounteous table. ( Jan.)