SERIOUS PIG

There are a number of books that explore New England, Louisiana, and Texas, but none of them delve so delectably into green-pea pie, Boston brown bread, dirty rice, and crawfish etoufee. John Thorne has the touch for seeking out a region's essence in its culinary expressions, which is to say he cares about places and the good grub they're known for. It's a pleasure to read the rich history of his favorite dishes and to salivate over Thorne's thorough research.