Cesar: Recipes from a Tapas Bar,Used

When three Chez Panisse alums opened a tapas bar next door to Alice Waters's famed Berkeley, California, restaurant, it was only a matter of days before a culinary star was born. With its menu of innovative, Spanishstyle tapas, paired with an astounding wineandspirits list that is among the best in the world, Csar earned a legion of devout fans and was named one of the best restaurants in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle.In CSAR the cookbook, restaurateur Olivier Said teams up with Spanishfoods authority James Mellgren and chef Maggie Pond to present over 100 classic spirits and tapa recipes from the Csar repertoire. Engaging discussion of the wines, staple ingredients, and cheeses of Spain provide context for appreciating and preparing this robust fare in the home kitchen. In both words and images, CSAR showcases the flavors of Spain, and the spirit of a beloved neighborhood tapas bar.Featuring more than 50 tapa recipes, 50 mixed drinks, extensive essays on Spanish foods and liquors of the world, and more than 50 fullcolor photographs.Beginning with a captivating history of sherrythe quintessential tapa accompaniment CSAR commences with a mixologist's guide to signature cocktails like the Lucky 13, the Marius, and the ThreeCitrus Margarita, as well as the restaurant's inspired variations on the classics.CSAR has been voted one of the best restaurants in the Bay Area five years in a row by the San Francisco Chronicle. ReviewsHumorously selfconscious and immediately accessible, includes 100 tapas and drink recipes [that] allow the home cook to replicate the restaurant's creations. . . . the dishes are designed with an emphasis on freshness. Most are easy to make, and the ingredient combinations are stellar.Publishers WeeklyA cookbook from a great restaurant is always welcome, but this one is also loaded with insight that goes greatly beyond the restaurant. The authors are superknowledgeable about Spanish foods and traditions. CSAR is a major contribution to the Mediterranean library.David Rosengarten, editorinchief of The Rosengarten ReportLike its namesake Berkeley tapas bar, the CSAR cookbook is lively, charming, and utterly delightful. A compendium of original and classic recipes and the drinks to accompany them, it's a perfect introduction to a delicious Spanish custom that is captivating Americans.Nancy Harmon Jenkins, author of The Essential MediterraneanCSAR is a celebration of the ultraconviviality of tapas, cocktails, and Spanish foods and wines. This book is handsome, eminently readable, and extremely usefula complete triumph.Steven Jenkins, author of Cheese PrimerOne of the greatest bars in the world in terms of quality of spirits, selection, and mixology. . . . Right next door to Chez Panisse, and started by veterans of the mother ship, CSAR has become an eating place in its own right. . . . The tiny open kitchen turns out resonant miniature fish stews; toasts with anchovies or grilled sardines; and traditional Spanish tortillas.Patricia Unterman, San Francisco Food Lover's Guide