Cooking With Regis & Kathie Le

The popular television talk-show hosts share a selection of recipes for some of the mouth-watering specialities prepared by their celebrity guests, including Tennessee Turtle, Irish bread, Christmas Cheesecake, and German Onion Pie.

In the translation from on-screen patter to print, most television-inspired cookbooks disappoint. However, this collection by talk-show hosts Philbin and Gifford delivers what it promises: "quick and easy recipes" that are indeed simple to understand and follow, and that faithfully include substitutions for unusual ingredients. Written in the lighthearted, conversational tone one might expect (though not always get) in books issued in the name of on-air stars, each recipe is crowned with often amusing details about the guest chef and his or her culinary creation. While many of the recipes are on the light (low-fat, low-calorie) side, like shrimp and vegetables from Benihana restaurant's Rocky Aoki, yogurt chicken from movie producer Ismail Merchant and smoked oriental seafood from The River Club's Jeff Tunks, equal (if higher-in-calorie) weight is given to some hardier fare, such as Robin Leach's Mediterranean eggplant pie, chef Paul Prudhomme's Indian pudding and Craig Claiborne's Christmas cheesecake. These aren't only recipes of the rich and famous, though: "family favorites" from Gifford (her mother and sister), their producer, Michael Gelman (and his mother), and Philbin's wife, Joy, give this collection a personal touch. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Here are dozens of recipes from the celebrities and celebrity chefs who have appeared on the cooking segment of the popular morning show Live with Regis & Kathie Lee. Contributors range from media figures like Robin Leach to professional chefs like Lutece's Andre Soltner. The recipes are simple and for the most part rather unsophisticated. Headnotes provide "atmosphere," with lots of cutesy anecdotes about Regis's part in the various segments. Still, 18 million viewers ensure that there will be heavy demand. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/92; Literary Guild and Better Homes & Garden Book Club selections.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.