The Union Square Cafe Cookbook: 160 Favorite Recipes from New York's Acclaimed Restaurant

Danny Meyer is the owner of the three-star New York City Union Square Cafe, and Michael Romano has been chef there since 1988. Together they've compiled some of their best-loved recipes, some of which have been on the menu since the restaurants opening, peppering them with clever notations and excellent wine suggestions. Their style is Italian-inspired new American and includes dishes like Orange-Fennel Osso Buco and Ratatouille-Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms. There's also an entire section devoted to mashed potatoes. Prepared with everything from over-dried tomatoes to eggplant, ginger and garlic, the restaurant's variations on this distinctly American dish are among its most popular offerings. The book won the 1995 Julia Child Cookbook Award in the First Book Category.