Beverages

This elegant entrée deserves special accompaniments, like buttered baby carrots sprinkled with chopped tarragon, twice-baked potatoes (available frozen) and a spinach salad tossed with toasted walnuts. New-York-style cheesecake with strawberries provides the properly indulgent finale.

Those with Texas-size appetites will require an entire steak; for most others — even the heartiest of meat lovers — half of one of these rib steaks is probably plenty.

Petto di Pollo alla Valdostana con Lenticchie Brasate I sometimes suggest some side dishes to go along with main courses and let you make up your mind which you prefer to serve. I love this combination so much, though, that I'm including the side dish as part of the recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

H.F. Lippincott of Montgomery, Alabama, writes: "The chicken marengo at O'Briens Bistro, in Pensacola, Florida, is delicious. I'd love to have the recipe."

Tom and Pam Kreider of Nashport, Ohio, write: "Our trip to the island of Mykonos inspired the creation of this recipe for fillet of sole. May these flavors transport you to the sunny isles of the Aegean." Don't be tempted to use fresh bread crumbs for this recipe — it won't be as good.

When he was the chef at the Carlton Hotel in London, Escoffier created Strawberries Americaine Style — strawberries in orange liqueur, blended into whipped cream and softened ice cream. Little did he know that it would one day be the star dessert of every posh dining spot in California. "Prince" Mike Romanoff "borrowed" the recipe and gave it a new moniker. Soon it was the hottest item on the West Coast. The L.A. Biltmore called it "Strawberries Biltmore." The Palace Hotel in San Francisco served it with anisette and maraschino.

Fideuà is the Catalan name for a favorite baked noodle dish.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave.

To complement this Provençal-style entrée, sprinkle torn radicchio with oil, vinegar and Niçoise olives, and mix chopped chives and grated Parmesan into pasta. Finish with a purchased lemon tart. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Although bisques tend to be thick and creamy, the following intensely flavorful version is light, with very little cream added.

Perfect before grilled fish or roast chicken.

Serve with steamed rice and some traditional condiments, such as chopped red and green onions, raisins, shredded coconut, peanuts and diced bananas.