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By JEFF HOUCK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 16, 2008

"Al Roker's Big Bad Book of Barbecue," by Al Roker (Scribner, $15.95)

I don't look to Bobby Flay for weather forecasts. Why would I see "Today" show weather personality Al Roker as an expert on barbecue? Well, he became infatuated three years ago with "the most social of the cooking arts" while covering the Memphis in May Barbecue Championship for the Food Network. Three years of barbecue experience is, like, three-generations-long in TV time. Plus, his dad used to grill. That counts. Oh, and he likes grilling summer corn in upstate New York. When he isn't hosting "Celebrity Family Feud," of course. Cool.

"Outstanding in the Field: A Farm to Table Cookbook," by Jim Denevan with Marah Stets (Clarkson Potter, $32.50)

There are restaurants that serve locally produced food and then there's Jim Denevan, who takes things to another realm by hosting dinners outdoors at the farms where the food is grown and harvested. Any more direct from farm-to-table and they'd have to grow the food in your mouth. Anyway, Denevan put together a great-looking cookbook. The caramelized carrot salad recipe almost inspired tears of joy as thoughts of sweet summer carrots danced in our heads. Yeah. We said it. Dancing carrots. Got a problem with that? Go see Jim.

"Summer on a Plate," by Anna Pump and Gen LeRoy (Simon & Schuster, $23)

Anna Pump's Loaves & Fishes restaurant is a landmark in Long Island among the summer set of Hamptons hoity-toitys. Her seasonal food is simple yet flavorful. The Sweet Corn and Tomato Salad With Fresh Cilantro can be made two hours in advance. The Grilled Lobster With Chili Butter is cooked and served in the shell. Almost makes you want to drive to New York. Almost.

"Wine Bar Food: Mediterranean Flavors to Crave With Wines to Match," by Cathy Mantuano and Tony Mantuano

Gotta love the Mediterranean flavors. They're so ... European. (Do we know our geography or what?) On that side of the planet, wine bars are great places to unwind while sipping and sampling small plates of food. The Mantuanos - who are opening a restaurant in Miami's South Beach, by the way - offer a book full of great, easy-to-make finger foods, from parmigiano flatbread to grilled short ribs and pomegranate-glazed salmon. The recipes look so good, you might be tempted to lick your fingertips. Then again, maybe not.

Jeff Houck

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