If there was such a thing as a perfect cookbook, this would have to be it! First off it's really an attractive hard-cover edition that's loaded with full-color photographs. Mark Davis, Dallas-based food photographer, provides beautiful photos of many of the dishes, while Bob Moorehouse, ranch manager of the Pitchfork Ranch, lends lots of great shots of authentic contemporary ranching life. There is a smattering of old black and white photos giving a nice feel of the ranching heritage. There are also many sidebars with anecdotal and historical information.

Recipes? Oh yes, Perini (owner of the Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap, TX and one of the most sought-after cooks of authentic Texan fare) shares the recipes and preparation secrets for 75 of his all-time favorite cowboy dishes and drinks. And he serves them up with Texas charm, cowboy lore, and Perini wit you won't soon forget.

Spirit of the West is filled with robust, flavorful dishes that sustained cowpokes and wranglers, ranch hands and cattle barons. Influenced by the cooking of Mexico and of the Native American inhabitants - and enriched by the many ethnic cuisines brought to the region by its settlers - ranch house cooking is American home cooking on a grand scale.

The book includes more than 100 recipes for simple, mouthwatering dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and anytime in between. It begins with recipes that date back to the first western ranchers - who came north from Mexico in the sixteenth century - and continues through the beloved dishes served at today's dude ranches.

This book traces the mythic story of the American frontier through its food. Chapters are introduced by Western historian David Dary, author of Cowboy Culture, who sketches the history of the American West including the vaquero tradition; the time of the great cattle drives and the open range; the era of the big ranches; the coming of homesteaders; and today's dude ranches. Sam'l P. Arnold, author of Eating Up the Santa Fe Trail weaves together Western food, history and the way of life in the book's introduction.

At home on your coffee table as well as your kitchen, this book serves up beautiful, full page color photos of great looking dishes. If you weren't hungry when you picked up this book, you will be by the time you put it down.