Spuntino, Norman Russell

Hidden behind rust-colored frontage in the bustling heart of Londons Soho, Russell Normans humble diner, Spuntino, delivers bold flavors to the crowds who flock to its pewter-topped bar. It is Normans homage to the meals hes enjoyed in frequent trips to New York restaurants--a British chefs spin on American comfort classics.

The one hundred and twenty recipes featured here include burgers, buttermilk fried chicken, the definitive mac and cheese, Spuntinos signature truffled egg toast, sprightly salads, boozy desserts, and upscale cocktails. And Norman charts his love affair with the New York food scene, mapping walks through Manhattan and Brooklyns hidden gems and scruffy corners, the brasseries and family-owned delis, candy shops, and cocktail bars.

Spuntino will, like POLPO, be a beauty to behold: the same glowing photography with a similarly dazzling design, including a distinctive stripped-away spine to reveal colorful Japanese stitching. Much as he delivered his own spin on Venice in POLPO, here Russell Norman gives us New York through new eyes--celebrating the energy, dynamism, and extraordinary cuisine of our great melting pot.