This cookbook is absolutely not for people who rise early to visit the French market off Boulevard St. Germain, pick out the plumpest chicken, take it home, kill it and strip off all the feathers. It's for workaday people who come home after a long day at the office or are staring down a holiday weekend with guests coming and having nary an idea what to bring to the table which can impress without stress. My simple premise is that if you have a well provisioned pantry, an appetite for adventure and a passion for making even the most pedestrian meal an occasion to celebrate and remember, you can put together something satisfying and tasty from any country in the world. The recipes are gleaned from 25+ years of cooking for ourselves and friends and guaranteed to make anyone who tastes them want to lick their plates and ask for second helpings. At the end of the day, does a home chef really need any more encouragement than that?