The Black Dog Summer on the Vineyard Cookbook

The Black Dog Tavern on Martha's Vineyard is a cult classic--and anyone who's eaten there will recognize the distinctive black-lab T-shirt that fans of the restaurant all over the world wear. Now, with The Black Dog Summer on the Vineyard Cookbook, by Elaine Sullivan, those same diners can bring the Dog's savory new New England fare back home as well. The best of these 100-some recipes center around the Black Dog's specialty: breakfast. Aficionados will find such familiar favorites as Eggs in the Grass (poached eggs over asparagus with hollandaise sauce), "M" Go Blue (banana and blueberry pancakes; the name recalls a University of Michigan cheer), and Huey, Louie, Andouille (a pepper, onion, and andouille sausage omelet). The book's step-by-step depiction of omelet preparation is particularly useful, even for veterans; the illustrations for this and other cooking technicalities, like clam opening, are precise and educational. Other standout recipes include Quahog Chowder, Crunchy Pecan Chicken with Lemon Sauce, Caramelized Scallops with Smoked Chili Cream, and Seared Tuna on Watercress Salad. Desserts such as Fudge Bottom Pie, Blueberry Pudding with Lemon Sauce, and Black Dog Ginger Cookies evoke the Black Dog's comfy-cosmo flavor, while scattered pictures and vignettes evoke the restaurant's casual vibe. With a pantry listing and useful cooking tips, this exuberantly designed book is a happy, well-produced effort.