Russel Wright is known as a pioneer in mid-century modern design and lifestyle marketing, from his well-known and highly collectible china, flatware and furniture, to his book, Guide to Easier Living. As a single working father with a young daughter to raise, he found the task of organizing daily menus daunting, and quickly grew tired eating the same meal each night. He combined his love of food with a collection of recipes gathered from travel and friends and his nearly-obsessive organizational skills to create a menu cookbook that was simple to use and could help anyone create interesting, balanced, fuss-free meals. When Annie Wright, Russel's daughter, showed them to friend and caterer Mindy Heiferling, they decided the menus deserved to be shared with the public. < BR>Russel Wright's Menu Cookbook: A Guide to Easier Entertaining contains fifteen menus with 65 recipes, each easy to prepare, beautiful in presentation, and always delicious. More than a simple cookbook, this guide offers tips on getting organized, ways to use modern "convenience" foods (like Thai red curry paste or store-bought sorbet), how to set a stylish table, and how to make entertaining a pleasure rather than an ordeal. The menus have a timeless yet modern appeal-from a "Mid-summer Americana Cookout" to a "Green and White Cocktail Party"-this cookbook provides an uncomplicated and creative way to approach everyday mealtimes or unique celebrations.< BR>Mindy Heiferling is a New York City-based chef, food writer and recipe developer. Her articles and recipes have appeared in The Best American Recipes: 1999, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, and Food & Wine, among others. This is her second book. < BR>Annie Wright is a chef and caterer, and has taught at the New York Restaurant School. She holds degrees in Nutrition and Hotel & Restaurant Management, and is currently a partner in Russel Wright Studios, LLC. She is also a co-founder and board member of Manitoga, The Russel Wright Design Center in Garrison, New York.< BR> Read Less