A masterpiece of a cookbook! Written by the Women Who Shape the Way We Eat & Drink.

Les Dames d'Escoffier is a professional organization of women chefs, food writers, caterers, purveyors, and others that was established in 1973 and today has more than 1300 members, many of them culinary stars. Their first cookbook includes dozens of recipes ranging from Grilled Gazpacho Salad with Shrimp to Black Cod with Horseradish Coulis. Despite its rather pretentious subtitle and references to each contributor as a "Dame"-as in "New York City Dame Lidia Bastianich"-the book has the feel of an upscale community cookbook, though the recipes, of course, are generally more sophisticated. With helpful tips, beverage suggestions, and make-ahead notes; Bidder pays shipping charges.