The best modern cooking combines fresh ingredients, healthy outlook and creative simplicity. Gerry Galvin, restaurateur, award-winning chef, poet and author of this collection of delicious and simple recipes offers 80 of his favorites -- all tried and tested in his country house restaurant just outside Galway, and guaranteed easy to prepare. Try a simple cheese soup with celery sticks or go all out on baked avocado with fish mousse and curried coconut sauce. There's a section of mouth-watering vegetarian dishes, some innovative one-pot dishes plus a dessert pizza with fruit, chocolate and mint topping. There are also 12 essential items that you should never let your kitchen be without.