Fiesta! A Celebration of Latin Hospitality

The secret of Latin hospitality? A magic recipe that combines style and panache with an easygoing, carefree approach. Put out wonderful food, then party today and do the dishes ma±ana! Fiesta food is vibrant, friendly, generous, and simple. It adds sparkle to casual Sunday dinners, backyard barbecues, informal cocktails, and--certainly--wild Latin parties. No wonder it's the newest culinary craze!

In Fiesta!, Anya von Bremzen perfectly captures the zest and exuberance of Latin food and traditions along with the joyous spirit of the Latin people. She presents a rainbow of empanadas and other enticing snacks; folksy meal-in-a-bowl soups, such as Colombian Three-Potato Chowder and Brazilian Bouillabaisse; homey yet elegant entrees from Inca Herb-Wrapped Beef to Basque Tuna in Melting Onion Sauce; and--to top it all off--sweets like CafÚ con Leche Mousse, Caramel-Pineapple Cheesecake, and Peruvian Pumpkin Doughnuts. On special holiday occasions, celebrate with a famous Venezuelan Ham Bread, Portuguese Mint-Crusted Easter Lamb, or Latin Party Roast Fresh Ham with Cracklings.

Short essays, side notes, and the recipe introductions all evoke the vibrant music, zest for life, and festive traditions that light up not only the small towns and major cities of Latin America, Portugal, and Spain, but also the burgeoning Latino communities of the United States.

Photographs by John Welchman in dazzling color and evocative black and white bring Anya von Bremzen's word pictures brilliantly to life, so that reading and looking through Fiesta! will make you want not only to cook these dishes for friends and family but also to turn up the music and dance to a seductive Latin beat.