New England brunch Seasonal midday meals for leisurely weekends

Inman, a born-and-bred New Englander, food blogger, contributor to Cook's Illustrated and America's Test Kitchen, and author of several cookbooks, including New England Desserts, believes brunch is the best meal of the day. To share her love of that most coveted culinary experience, Inman has gathered more than 100 recipes for dishes both sweet and savory. After a brief introduction to the history of New England foodways and traditions, Inman takes a seasonally minded approach and divides her recipes into chapters dedicated to spring, summer, fall, and winter, with one additional chapter dedicated to a favorite Boston experience: all-season dim sum. Everything from classic blueberry muffins and Dirt Bombs (apple cider doughnuts) to lobster-salad sliders and anadama bread is on the menu, and, in addition to these quintessentially New England brunch treats, Inman also puts her own culinary twist on items such as zucchini bread in the form of zucchini Earl Grey tea cake. Sprinkled throughout are helpful and fascinating sidebar essays on topics as varied as the history of doughnuts to juicing Concord grapes, as well as a listing of resources for uniquely New England ingredients. VERDICT An engaging and informative guide to brunch done the New England way.--John Charles