In Lush Life: Food and Drinks from the Garden, readers can follow Valerie Rice's recipes to re-create her seasonal and locally sourced fare, or simply enjoy an imaginary visit to her Southern California home through the inviting photos and enthusiastic text.
Arranged by seasons, opening with spring when "the garden begins to take off," Rice includes sumptuous, easy-to-follow recipes plus planting guidelines for favorite ingredients from her Santa Barbara garden. Detailed wine pairings from her friend, sommelier Rajat Parr, and entertainment tips (including crab legs for Rice's "nearest and dearest" and her holiday "Tinsel, Tequila and Tamale" party for 100) complete this gorgeous book. Meyer lemons and fig trees may not grow in your garden, but Valerie Rice's Lush Life is yours to savor. --Cheryl Krocker McKeon, bookseller, Market Block Books