With a clear and inviting style, a passion for bold flavors and a bevy of family favorites gathered from around the globe, J.M. Hirsch and Michelle Vigeant are putting a lush new face on vegetarian cooking. Fifty photographs by noted food photographer Larry Crowe compliment the text. Venturesome Vegetarian Cooking offers a world of meat- and dairy-free meals drawn from the authors' culinary explorations -- spanakopita from Greece, crostini and pasta from Italy, pad thai and aromatic soups from Thailand, sushi and earthy noodle dishes from Japan, and plenty of comforting favorites from home -- creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy biscuits, rich gravy, and thick corn chowder. These are dishes simple enough to pull together during the week, yet daring and delicious enough for dinner parties.