Latin Grill Sultry and Simple Food By Rafael Palomino with Arlen Gargagliano, photographs by Dan Goldberg

Play with fire without breaking into a sweat. Give them sizzling steaks striped with grill marks, and tropical nectars to sip. End the night with sticky, luscious desserts.  Smile and relax with your little Latin Grill secret: easy prep and effortless execution! GRILL IT! Latin Grill gives you simple, passionate meals cooked over fire.

More than 80 recipes for easy-to-make grilled dishes, cooling ceviches, and cocktails such as Blueberry-Pisco Sours and Grilled Pineapple Mojitos to make an occasion of any meal. Grilling and relaxing at home has never been more of a pleasure!

Inspired by the traditional foods of Rafael Palomino’s native Colombia and his travels, you, too, are a worldly adventurer who brings the fiesta to the table with uncomplicated recipes for everything from marinades and dipping sauces to appetizers, grilled meats, and desserts. A meal couldn’t be simpler or more satisfying than Crisp Tortillas Topped with Prosciutto and Shaved Manchego Cheese or the signature Palomino burger, oozing with melted cheese and avocado. Roasted Muscovy Duck in a Honey-Black Pepper-Pineapple Glaze or Grilled Sea Scallops with a Cumin and Garlic Rub make an easy-yet-sophisticated mid-week dinner. Round out the meal with sides such as Grilled Caesar Salad, grilled asparagus, or sweet plantains.

For a dessert with unanimous appeal, dip homemade Churros into Dulce de Leche, Mora, or Chocolate Sauce or pull out all the stops for your favorite chocoholic with the unforgettable Semisweet Chocolate and Coffee Brioche Bread Pudding.

Whether it’s a hot afternoon when grilling is the perfect dinner solution or a winter Sunday that needs to be spiced up . . . this food is no sweat. ¡Buen provecho! Enjoy!

Rafael Palomino, born in Bogotá, Colombia, and raised in Queens, is the proprietor and executive chef of Sonora in Port Chester, New York, Pacífico in New Haven, Connecticut, and Center Valley, Pennsylvania, and Greenwich Tavern in Greenwich, Connecticut. He is the author of Nueva Salsa, Viva la Vida, Fiesta Latina (all from Chronicle Books), and Bistro Latino. Chef Palomino, founder of LatinoChef.com and RafaelPalomino.com, lives with his wife and two children in Bedford, New York.

Arlen Gargagliano is the coauthor of Nueva Salsa, Viva la Vida, and Fiesta Latina, as well as several other books related to Latin-style entertaining. She has lived and traveled in Spain and Latin America, and currently resides with her family in New Rochelle, New York.

Dan Goldberg is a Chicago-based photographer. His work for Chronicle Books includes Anna Getty’s Easy Green Organic.

Chic Galleria is giving away a copy of Latin Grill to 1 lucky Chic Galleria reader. Just leave a comment on this article. The winner will be chosen at random from those who leave a comment and the winners will be announced March 7, 2010.

Congratulations Storm!