Each of the 60 paintings presented is discussed from both an art historical and culinary perspective and is followed by an authentic period recipe. A cookbook accompanying the main volume adapts these recipes for the modern kitchen. Drawn exclusively from American museums, art galleries and private collections, the artworks portray still lifes, Dutch tavern and market scenes, and festive occasions by 45 Dutch artists including such well-known painters as Jan Steen, Adriaen van Ostade and Pieter Claesz and their less famous contemporaries such as Quiringh Gerritsz, van Brekelenkam and Harmen van Steenwijck. The volume also contains essays by Charles T. Gehring and Nancy T. Minty.