The Pinstripe Gourmet: Quick and Elegant Meals for Working People

Although the author's intrusive affectations need to be taken with a grain of salt, this cookbook serves up simple, satisfying fare for readers who have little time or temperament for meal-planning, food-shopping or cooking. To facilitate meal preparation, Ackart (Spirited Cooking offers complete menus (from breakfast through dinner, casual to formal dining), preparation times, wine suggestions, shopping lists, and explains what can be prepared in advance. He also includes kitchen hints, how-to's and definitions, and ""presumes to dictate'' a list of kitchen and pantry staples, which are useful on the whole, but one may wonder if such items as orzo (rice-shaped pasta) are truly crucial. Ackart puts forth what he calls ``soothing'' foods, i.e., fish and chicken instead of red meat, hot soups, oatmeal, unbleached flour, all of which he believes will minimize stress in the harried life of the executive. Readers won't find instant food here; every recipe takes some time and effort: poached pears may require only 15 minutes to prepare but they bake for five hours and necessitate basting every hour. (May 27)