Includes index.

When firefighters cook for each other, they're doing more than putting food on the table. They're creating a moment of happiness in a tough, stressful world. No wonder their food is so satisfying. Especially in a culinary mecca like San Francisco, where every neighborhood has its own food traditions and every firefighter has a favorite family recipe or two -- like Duck Wonton Soup, tender homemade Tamales with a spicy pork filling, fiery Thai BBQ Chicken with Peanut Sauce, and big-flavored Pasta Puttanesca. Step into the city's firehouse kitchens and discover everything from the secrets of the definitive Caesar salad to tips for great grilling and making perfect piecrust -- along with the stories, traditions, and personalities that make San Francisco firehouse food so special. It's fresh, it's exciting, and it's a perfect reflection of the kind of family-style cooking we're all looking for today.