Assembled here are 100 recipes from across Spain which the author discovered on a food odyssey that took him from one end of the country to the other. Along the way he sampled a wide range of Spanish regional specialties and delicious delicacies, the best of which are included in this easy-to-follow cookbook.

More than just a "how-to" guide, Menu del Dia also serves up a mix of stories, history and anecdotes from the author's journey, which season this volume and make it a pleasure to read.

That being said, this is still a cookbook; hence, you'll want to sample the many recipes it contains. If you want to start with something simple and easy to whip together, try Salmorejo, a chilled tomato and bread soup with ham and egg, or Escalivivada, roasted and marinated red peppers, eggplant and onion.

For a main course, Cocido Madrileno (Madrid-style mixed meat and chickpea stew), Fricando (braised beef with wild mushrooms) or Atun Encekoliado (tuna with sweet onions) would be a pleasant change-of-pace from your usual family fare.

No matter what recipe you decide to try, Rohan Daft's easy-to-follow instructions assure you that you won't have to send out for pizza because something went terribly wrong!