Peter Gordon, the celebrated pioneer of fusion cooking, has chosen salads as the focus of his next book - the first by a major chef on this subject. No longer will salads be seen as nothing more than a few limp leaves and a couple of tomatoes. This inspiring book extols the salad as a satisfying main course which excites the eye, delights the tastebuds, fulfils today's drive to eat more healthily - and provides a delicious and satisfying meal. Beginning with an introduction to the key elements which go to create the perfect salad, the book features a dazzling array of ideas including perfect party food like Baby Little Gem Leaves filled with Spiced Peanuts, Green Mango and Mozzarella, everyday suppers such as a warm salad of Chorizo, Olive, Potato and Broad Bean with Crispy Onion and dazzling dinner party centrepieces such as Crayfish, Avocado and Ginger salad with Wild Rocket and Chive Dressing. As well as new ideas, there are also some sparkling re-workings of classic salads such as the Tweaked Tricolore: roast cherry tomato and mozzarella with the addition of guacamole, basil oil and corn chips. There is also advice on different ways of adding 'crunch' to salads with deep fried shallots and toasted nuts, as well as some superb basic dressing recipes. The book also includes information on buying and growing more unusual greens, herbs and other salad ingredients.

About the Author

New Zealander Peter Gordon moved to the UK in 1989 and opened the Sugar Club in 1996, marking the arrival of fusion food to Britain. In its first year it was named Best Modern British Restaurant in the Time Out Awards. His latest venture, The Providores and Tapas Room opened in Marylebone High Street in 2001 and was an instant success winning the coveted, Square Meal Best New Restaurant Award. His cookbooks include The Sugar Club Cookbook and Cook at Home with Peter Gordon as well as a World in My Kitchen. He has also made a thirteen-part series for the Carlton Food Network, Peter Gordon's Pacific Food, and featured in both Nigel Slater's and Jamie Oliver's highly successful series.