The picture I have of New York is one of an urban jungle, seething with activity by night and day, fast-food eating people constantly on the move and yellow taxis and police cars, lights flashing, sirens going, rushing along four lane highways high above the city…

But now there is a book that explodes those preconceived ideas, written by two NY restauranteurs, with exquisite photography by Francesco Tonelli, it celebrates New York regional cuisine and introduces some of the farmers who produce the freshest of ingredients, within a stone’s throw of the city. The recipes are varied, intriguing and well within the scope of home cooks.

This treasury of recipes and information is about as far from fast food as you can get – it is a coffee table tome to be dipped into, enjoyed and used over many years.