Willard Scott's Taste of Puerto Rico

In addition to the obvious attractions of sun, sand, and some of the best preserved Spanish colonial architecture to be found in this hemisphere, Puerto Rico is also a favorite destination for food lovers wishing to sample the island's culinary delights. Willard Scott, the Today show's genial weatherman, takes the viewer on a cook's tour of contemporary island cuisine, which mixes European, native Indian, African, Cuban, and American flavors to produce a sophisticated, distinctive culinary style. Chefs share their cooking secrets for making delicious appetizers, salads, seafood, and desserts, while the ever enthusiastic Scott peppers the preparations with exclamations of "great," "beautiful," and "fantastic!" Although some bed and breakfast resorts and restaurants are shown, and some examples of island music, dancing, and lace making are demonstrated, the focus here is firmly on the cooking. Some of the delicacies prepared may be too advanced for the novice, and anyone who is not a gourmet may be a bit bored by the long instructional segments. The program's format seems to indicate that it is part of a larger television series, and would probably be more valuable to libraries as part of a set. As it stands, the program is a marginal purchase. Aud: P. (S. Rees)