Evening Edge

More than a dozen new grilling books are in stores, as well as a 10th anniversary reissue and update of "The Barbecue! Bible" by Steven Raichlen (Workman, $35).

The top of the crop:

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'Italian Grill' by Mario Batali (Ecco, $29.95).

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'Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas' by Craig W. Priebe with Dianne Jacob (DK, $20).

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'New South Grilling' by Robert St. John (Hyperion, $29.95).

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'Grill It!' by Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby (DK, $25)

GRILLING • Atlanta Summer Grilling Guide • Photo gallery New products for the grill • Fish and chicken recipes for the grill • Rating the grills | Grilling gear • Cookbooks | Tasty time-savers • Griling basics: Keys to a great cookout • Grilling safety: Follow these tips to reduce cancer risks from the grill • Recipes for the grill, with photos, plus sauces, marinades and rubs • Cookout blog: Which is best, charcoal or gas? • Pain on the porch: Your cookout is costing more ATLANTA SUMMER GUIDE • Outdoor dining: Dinner spots with great decks or patios • Summer events calendar • Summer music guide

"Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas" by Craig W. Priebe with Dianne Jacob (DK, $20). Priebe and his wife, Karla, were the owners of the much-missed C.K.'s Grilled Pizza in Norcross. They left metro Atlanta after Karla was held up at knifepoint while delivering pizzas. Now working as a private chef for a Chicago investment firm, Priebe shares recipes from the restaurant's favorites, including the Gamberian, the shrimp and pesto pizza that won first place at an international pizza competition and put C.K.'s on the foodie radar.

Inventive flavor combinations, like the Cherry Bomb, with brandied cherry sauce and chicken, are here, along with crowd-pleasers like the Trattorian, with sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms and bacon. Detailed instructions start with recommendations on the best indoor and outdoor grills for pizza, and include from-scratch directions for dough, sauces and toppings. It's a pizza purist's dream.

"New South Grilling" by Robert St. John (Hyperion, $29.95). Seafood lovers will find many Gulf Coast specialties here, from BBQ Oysters to Grilled Redfish Sandwiches With Seafood Rémoulade Sauce, and those are the reasons to pick up the book. Although there's a Southern influence in many recipes, styles range from Asian to Tex-Mex.

"Italian Grill" by Mario Batali (Ecco, $29.95). Simple, authentically Italian ingredients and bold flavors are the focus. Instructions are clearly written, and color photos accompany almost all recipes. From Prosciutto With Grilled and Fresh Figs to Pork Shoulder Braciole, there's much here to savor. (Check out the recipe for Chicken Thighs With Snap Peas and Agliata on K3.)

"Grill It!" by Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby (DK, $25). The authors of "The Thrill of the Grill" return with a book for charcoal grillers (the recipes can be used for gas grills, too). Recipes are for cooks who want to incorporate the latest food trends and flavors into their grilling, from Chile-Garlic-rubbed Grilled Chicken Breast With Lemon Grass-Ginger Slaw to Cuban-style Smoked Pork Ribs With Mango Mojo. Although many of the recipes journey around the globe for flavor, basics like an Eggplant and Tomato Hobo Pack are simple to prepare and pack a lot of flavor.