Andrew Carmellini, author of the acclaimed Urban Italian as well as chef and co-owner of Locanda Verde and The Dutch restaurants in New York City, shows the breadth of his culinary influences in American Flavor (Ecco, $34.99).  Recipes collected from trips all over the country reflect the diversity of our melting pot.  Asian dishes like tofu stew with miso and shiitake and Korean steak are only pages away from a Hispanic dish like chicken pozole and eastern-European specialties like borscht-the-way-your-mom-made-it and pierogies.  What all the dishes have in common is that they’re high on flavor and not overly complicated.  The recipes are designed with home chefs in mind, calling for ingredients that can be gotten easily.  The photography is excellent, making every dish look delicious.