Thankfully, I was wrong.

My interest in this book began with the forward by Chris Schlesinger, one of my favorite chefs. Schlesinger has taught me to use simplicity to achieve tastes which are highly complex. Schlesinger's inventive restaurants are always a culinary adventure. So, it was with some anticipation that I began to read The Fearless Chef.

The Fearless Chef is one of those books which you'll not only use when cooking for yourself and your immediate family, but also when entertaining.

At first glance the recipes may appear daunting. Yet just try one and you'll be amazed at how deceptively simple it is to prepare the dish. The wonderful amalgam of flavors and aromas of the finished product will belie how easy it was to make.

So why is this chef fearless? The answer is all too simple. Chef Husbands combines flavors and foods in a manner that one might not expect. Try the Halibut & Prosciutto with white beans and I guarantee that even those of you who are not fish people will ask for a second serving. And don't forget the recipe for Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Green Onion Gravy. I'm certain it will become a favorite of yours just as it has become of a favorite of mine.

The Fearless Chef is a welcome addition to my permanent collection of cookbooks as it's filled with recipes that delight the palette and amaze guests. So if you're ever at my home and I'm cooking; don't ask if that delectable meal I prepared for you was one of the recipes of Andy Husbands, because although I'm honest in my reviews -- in my home I want all of the credit! I know that sounds self centered of me. But wait until you cook for your friends making dishes from this book, and then tell me what you did.

And please don't chiffonade while blindfolded.

A portion of the sales of the proceeds from the sales of The Fearless Chef will benefit Share Our Strength.

Recipe chapters include: Prep Work - Sauces, Spices, Rubs, Salsas, and Chutneys; First Things First - Appetizers; A Toss-Up - Salads; Bowled Over -Soups; Made for Each Other - Rice and Beans; Going Green - Vegetables; Deep Thoughts - Seafood; Carnivores Galore - Meat and Poultry; On the Rise - Baked Goods; Sweet Nothings - Desserts; With a Twist - Cocktails.

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