Our ‘Cook Book’ of the month for July is written by two Americans, Chris Schlesinger, chef/patron of the East Coast Grill, and John Willoughby, executive editor of Gourmet.

Barbecue is a serious contender as the book on barbecuing. In other words, if you only want one BBQ cookbook – this is it.

It tells you everything, and more, you’ll ever need to know about the near-mythic social rite of the backyard cookout.

Grilling, aka “cooking food quickly over the coals of a hot fire” is what Barbecue is mostly about, but various other techniques; smoke- and ash-roasting, building, starting and managing fires and choosing fuels, are also explored in detail. There’s even a section Knowing when Food is Done

Divided into inspiring headings as Things with Wings, On a Stick, Water Dwellers and Sips and Sweets, these are light, fresh recipes – spot on for outdoor eating.