Side

Pommes allumettes There are two temptations in this recipe that you need to resist: Do not use a small pot for frying the potatoes — the oil will bubble up and overflow, which is extremely dangerous. And do not try to cook the potatoes in fewer than 6 batches or they won't get crisp enough. Because the timing for this menu can be complicated, we recommend that you make the potatoes ahead. They are just as delicious at room temperature as they are when hot.

Santo Stefano di Sessanio produces some of the best lentils in Abruzzo. Small French lentils make a good substitute.

Raymond Williams of Minneapolis, Minnesota, writes: "Every November, my wife and I drive to our winter home in Scottsdale, Arizona. We always look forward to warming up in the desert sun and eating at our favorite restaurant in town, Zinc Bistro. Last winter we had an outstanding artichoke and celery root salad there."

This recipe is an accompaniment for <epi:recipelink id="230635">Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Sauce, Creamed Spinach, and Truffled French Fries</epi:recipelink>. You'll need a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Peach Barbecue sauce . This side is also great with barbecued ribs or chicken.

Willow Cheng of Santa Monica, California, writes: "I just got a big promotion and my husband wanted to take me out to dinner to celebrate. We had both heard great things about A.O.C., so we decided to check it out. The food didn't disappoint — especially the outstanding curried cauliflower."

This recipe is an accompaniment for Pork Tenderloin with Cider Jus .

This refreshing and versatile salad sets off some of the more decadent dishes at Isa.

Armandino Batali of Salumi in Seattle, writes: "My son, Mario Batali, may be the most recognizable foodie in the family, but the Batalis' interest in Italian cooking and culture goes back generations. My grandfather opened Seattle's first Italian-food import store in 1903. It was located just a few steps from where my restaurant, Salumi, is now, and it's one of the things that inspired me to get into the business. "The idea behind Salumi was to create a restaurant, deli, and meat factory in one place, just like the salumerias in Italy. We're known for homemade sausages and salami, but we also attract a large lunchtime crowd. Some of the specials, like the meat loaf and frittata, have been in our family for years. They're also easy to make at home." Here's a great way to use leftover pasta or any pasta or marinara sauce.

Loren uses a mortar and pestle to pound the ingredients for her pestolike sauce, but we found it much easier to blend them in a food processor.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.