Karen Brooks, Gideon Bosker and Reed Darmon: Dude Food - Recipes for the Modern Guy

(Chronicle Books $39.95)

Review: Gilbert Wong

I've never "shock roasted" a lamb rack but that's not to say I won't.

This is a salute to retro, 60s-style, when bachelors swung and pads were what you called home.

There's some classic dishes here - a caesar salad, a chocolate milkshake, home fries.

Think Americana food before it was taken over by the burger chains.

Nothing flash, except for the baked Alaska which does look tempting.

Perhaps a little too ironic and dedicated to design rather than food to be of lasting value.