BBQ Bash

Book excerpt: Any party with Karen Adler and Judith Fertig at the helm is bound to be a success. With 100 creative, delicious recipes for entertaining with the grill or smoker, BBQ Bash is the key to partying with a touch of panache, from casual backyard get-togethers to more elaborate ''black-tie'' barbecues. The versatile dishes - from elegant appetizers and entrees, to refreshing sides and salads, to decadent desserts - offer all the flavor and flair of crowd-pleasing party food without any of the fuss. Recipes include Pancetta-Wrapped Radicchio, Fennel, and Potato Bundles; Creole Coffee-Rubbed Filet Mignon with Silky Crab Butter; Piquillo Pepper-Stuffed Chicken with Salsa Verde; Provenal Grilled Salmon with Rosemary and Mint Aioli; Grilled Pink Grapefruit and Orange Salad with Avocado; Planked Portobellos with Fresh Herb Grilling Sauce; Wine-Splashed Peaches, Plums, and Berries; and Golden Raspberry Meringues with Pistachios. A comprehensive introduction spells out all the information anyone will ever need to know to host a dazzling barbecue bash from start to finish, with tips about charcoal and gas grilling, smoking, skewering, stir-grilling, planking, stovetop smoking, and even stocking the bar, setting the tables, and selecting the right music. Sidebars throughout feature time-saving, party-planning, and food-presentation tips, as well as suggested themed menus, cocktail suggestions and recipes, recipe variations, and much more.