It is not a surprise that such a successful restaurant spawned a cookbook, aptly named Boulevard, following the path of many of the top restaurants in the Bay Area: Chez Panisse, Zuni Cafe (whose own Judy Rodgers wrote a few kind words on the cover of Boulevard), and the French Laundry.

It is this last book that Boulevard resembles the most: a large format with a hard-cover opening into beautifully laid-out pages. The book belongs as much on the coffee table as on a stand in the kitchen: each recipe is artfully illustrated with a tantalizing picture. Enough hints: if you still need a gift for someone for Christmas, this one won't disappoint.