Seafood

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The secret of making fried rice lies in the use of cold, cooked rice. Freshly cooked rice will only produce a sticky mess.

This is a sophisticated first course. The soup is also nice without the lobster. Uncork a Chardonnay or a French Sancerre.

This recipe produces a deliciously moist fish with a subtly salty flavor.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Because these crab cakes are made with lots of crab meat and not much filler, they require gentle handling during cooking, but the results are well worth the extra effort. At the restaurant '21' the chef makes decorative squiggles with the chili mayonnaise using a plastic squeeze-bottle of the type used for ketchup at hot dog stands.

For a nice picnic, pack up this salad (chill it well first), some bread and wine.

Complete the menu with roasted potatoes, steamed spinach and butterscotch brownies.

If you can't find fresh sea scallops, use peeled large shrimp, leaving the tails on. Rice pilaf or orzo would be a good accompaniment.