This is another of Emeril's great cook books, "Louisiana Real & Rustic." This is what I call cooking with a flair. The difference lays within the pages that not only supply the buyer with some wonderfully creative cooking, but with the history of the people and area that Emeril calls home.

It is no secret that Emeril is vehement about his belief in the use of the freshest seasonings, meats, poultry and fish...that remains a constant throughout the book. The recipes are simple, ranging from average to a bit time consuming depending on how well your kitchen is equipped. The writing is easy to follow and, what is more important, your end result will be a bouquet of success.

As anyone who has tried to cook "Cajun" knows, it is not in the wrist it probably comes from the wisdom of someone who knows. Emeril's knack of communication is like a continuation of a conversation throughout the book.

"Cooking is a labor of love for me, as are my books. It is another way I feel I can share my knowledge. Good cooking is a commitment and I have put together the recipes with the help of a lot of good people, so people can go to the kitchen and create for themselves," says Emeril.

The noted chef is now the chef-proprietor of Emeril's Restaurant in the chic warehouse district of New Orleans and Nola Restaurant located in the historic French Quarter. His third restaurant, Emeril's New Orleans Fish House, is located in Las Vegas, Nevada in the monumental MGM Grand Hotel and his fourth, Delmonico, is on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. Emeril's Orlando, which will be located within the Universal Studios Citiwalk in Orlando, Florida is scheduled to open in June of 1998. Chef Emeril Lagasse is nationally known with the TVFood Network's production of "The Essence of Emeril" and the Cable Ace award winning "Emeril Live." Voted by Time Magazine as one of the top 10 TV shows of 1996, he reaches over 20 million homes daily.