Bon Appétit

Order pork shanks and pig's foot from nimanranch.com or 866-808-0340.

Crushed pretzels make a better-than-breadcrumb crust.

Soft 00 flour (available at Italian markets) produces a more tender pasta, but all purpose flour works well, too.

Serve the carnitas with mashed sweet potatoes, mixed baby greens, or rolled up in warm tortillas with salsa, chopped onions, and cilantro. Berkshire pork lends the best flavor, but a regular pork butt or shoulder is also delicious. Be sure to keep the oil at moderate heat, which will cook the pork perfectly without overbrowning.

Lentilles du Puy are lighter than other lentils and hold their shape especially well during cooking.

Meyer lemons add a floral note, but if you can't find them, regular lemons work just fine.

This phenomenal take on a classic flourless chocolate cake lives up to its translation, 'The Black Beast."

This sauce adds a nice kick to Shabu-Shabu. Use it as you would wasabi in sushi restaurants.

**Improv:**Fresh or frozen thawed raspberries would also be great alongside the panna cotta.

To make the prep easier, buy pre-sliced meat and vegetables; they're sold at some Asian markets. If you can't find pre-sliced meat, ask your butcher to slice it for you. Improv: Substitute bok choy for the cabbage, and onions for the leeks.

Imrov: Use fresh lemon juice instead of yuzu juice; try English hothouse cucumbers in place of the Japanese variety.

Reproduce our handsome cover in your home to add a note of distinction to your entertaining during the warm summer evenings. This is "Watermelon" a creation of the Bourbon Institute. The colors and styling are most appropriate for summer entertaining. And the novelty will appeal to your guests.

The famous coffee flavors both the brownies and their ganache topping. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is prized for its bold, clean flavor, but good espresso beans and strong brewed espresso work well, too.

The Cuban classic gets a delicious boost from the addition of flavorful Spanish smoked paprika. Spanish paprika (Pimentón de la Vera) is everywhere for a good reason: its magically smoky flavor. Look for it at specialty foods stores or order it from latienda.com.