By Scott Conant

Broadway Books; $35 If you're looking for some original cooking ideas from a chef who's come very far very fast, you've found your guy in Conant. Chef-owner of New York City's L'Impero (2003 winner of the Beard Award as the country's best new restaurant) and his new hit, Alto, the 33-year-old Conant has an original take on Italian food. His food is designed to produce "the combination of a beguiling aroma followed by flavors that come together to match, if not to exceed, the promise of that initial aroma. That's what I am after with every recipe in this book, " he says. Most of the 125 recipes meet this high standard. This chef knows his stuff, and communicates it well in this book.