Anyone who knows food and lives in Los Angeles knows about Rockenwagner - a fabulous Santa Monica restaurant that serves exquisite cuisine in a unique trendy, yet surprisingly homey atmosphere.

The restaurant has made its mark, largely because of the talents of its chef/owner Hans Rockenwager (helped along by the attention generated by some regular high profile celebrity patrons).

Prior to the release of this book, the only place you could get Hans' signature dishes such as Crab Souffé with Mango and Lobster Butter Sauce, or Poached Spinach Stuffed Lamb Loin with Tomato Fondue and Thyme Lemon Jus, were at the eatery.

But now, they are as close as your own kitchen. Well, sort of. You still have to cook them.

Many of the recipes are what I call "fussy food" - the perfect thing to serve when you're out to impress. The flavors are superb and the presentations works of art. The Salad of Arugula and Sea Scallops with Salmon Caviar and Buerre Blanc will have your guests gasping in surprise at its artful un-veiling. Yes, it does take some time and effort and a reasonable amount of cooking skill. But the techniques are so well explained and illustrated that I would recommend this book to any cook looking to add a little adventure to their repertoire.

But wait - the Rockenwagner book is so much more! While many of the recipes are time and labor intensive, just as many more are not. Recipes such as Grilled Seabass with Orange and Red Onion Sauce and Citrus Couscous or Hong Kong to L.A. Chicken Salad are in the realm of even beginners.

There's a chapter on "basics" that includes sauces, stocks and extras such as home cured salmon and various marinated and pickled vegetables.

The book also has an extensive section on breads (another thing the restaurant is famous for), including Rockenwagner's fabulous pretzels. The dessert section has a multitude of wonderful ways to end the perfect meal.

So if you don't live in Los Angeles in order to make it to Rockenwagner the restaurant, Rockenwagner the book just might be the next best thing.

Sample Recipes:
See the Related Recipes box below for sample recipes from this book.