In Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul's Winnie and Wilbur Meet Santa (Oxford £12.99) that is what you get: the mood is comprehensively festive and freshly served.
So, too, the effort to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and others with a propensity for violence -- as the shooter in Hesston, Kansas, freshly served with a domestic violence restraining order, so tragically exemplifies.
It offers the standard Mexican fare -- tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas and quesadillas -- all freshly made, served hot and spicy.
The men aboard will fry you up a big piece of fish with freshly cooked onions, served on fresh bread, while trying to keep their balance.
Pick a seat at one of the colourfully painted tables, looking out over the garden, and tuck into freshly made bread (served in a pretty patchwork bag), plum and fig jam, flasks of coffee and hot milk, a jug of freshly squeezed orange juice and, on the day I was there, home-made cake made with a variety of sweet potato that grows only in the surrounding area.
The lobster is freshly caught and served with garlic and herb butter.
Due to the School Lunch Initiative MLKJMS students are now served freshly cooked meals in their canteen, prepared each day from locally sourced ingredients.
Sandwiches on freshly baked rolls served with the slaw and a big batch of fries make substantial, low-cost entrees ($8 to $9).
The Pit-stop Beetroot, parsnip and ginger soup or poached egg with English asparagus and hollandaise sauce is typical of the freshly made fare served in a large airy dining room at The Cotswold Food Store & Café (01451 830469; cotswoldfoodstore.co.uk).co.uk
Though the dish may still taste good, a certain elusive quality is lost, which is why takeout and steam-table dishes always lack the brightness of those freshly cooked and served.
OS references: SH 387 950, SH 393 948, SH 402 944 The pit stop: The Stag, Cemaes Bay The Stag has a fantastic reputation in the area for freshly cooked food, served in generous portions, at very reasonable prices.
