A Late Dinner

Vivid and richly textured, "A Late Dinner" is a delightful journey through Spain and Spanish cuisine. Paul Richardson is the perfect guide. In lush prose he brings to life the fascinating people who grow and cook and eat the hugely varied and still little-known food of Spain.

Richardson's vibrant writing takes readers beyond gazpacho and paella and immerses them in the flavorful world of Spanish food -- from the typical coastal cuisine; to the ancient shepherd cooking of the mountains; to the cities of Madrid, Barcelona, and San Sebastian, where chefs are setting the trend for modern cuisine across the globe. His evocative descriptions -- the fried sh in Cadiz; the tender asparagus and sweet crispy lettuce of Navarre; the Catalan calcotada, a feast of grilled spring onions in a nutty, delicately spicy sauce; the whimsical creations of internationally acclaimed chef Ferran Adria -- are a celebration of the senses.

Richardson traces the roots of Spanish cooking to the landscape, the people, and the history of this beautiful and complex country. "A Late Dinner" is a glorious and intimately drawn portrait of Spain.