CHICAGO, May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- It's almost like having Art Smith (best known as Oprah Winfrey's personal chef), national television personality, best-selling cookbook author and winner of the prestigious James Beard award, prepare dinner for you and your family at home.

Allen Brothers, a fourth-generation family company, provides America's families with the finest meats and gourmet foods available through its 56- page consumer catalog (1-800-957-0111) and its Web site (http://www.allenbrothers.com/).

Now Allen Brothers is pleased to introduce Chef Art Smith's "Back to the Family" culinary delights.

Most of the nine Art Smith gourmet dishes are heat and serve and ready to enjoy in minutes. (Complete descriptions and photos can be found in the new Allen Brothers catalog and on the company's Web site):

* Pistachio-Crusted Chicken with Thai Ginger Sauce: Delectable skinless chicken breast filets are topped with a crispy coating of pistachios, Parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs. Art's own creamy Thai-style sauce, with ginger, curry, coconut milk and peanut butter, adds just enough of a spicy kick. It's a heat-and-serve gourmet treat. * Indochine Single-Bone Short Rib: Art starts with Allen Brothers own top- quality beef short ribs and braises them in a savory mix of vegetables and Asian spices until they're fall-off-the-bone tender. A classic French sauce completes this sensational mix of flavors. And all you have to do is heat, serve -- and enjoy. * Chili-Rubbed Lamb Rack: Dry rubs are most often applied to pork or beef. But Art has created the perfect mix of spices and herbs for Allen Brothers' eight-rib rack of lamb, adding a delicious new dimension to this traditional cut of meat. It's a festive presentation that is sure to impress. 20 minutes in the oven is all it takes. * Smothered Chicken: This Art Smith signature dish elevates "comfort food" to new culinary heights. A generous quarter-chicken smothered with turkey sausage and vegetables in a rich gravy. Just heat and serve for a feel-good meal. * Jambalaya: Art's jambalaya features a savory mix of jumbo shrimp, smoked sausage, boneless chicken and vegetables, accented by a blend of traditional Creole seasonings. All you have to do to enjoy this authentic taste of regional Americana is just heat and serve. * Pulled Pork: Tired of trying to enjoy barbecue where the smoke or sauce overwhelms the flavor of the meat? Thanks to Art, that's not a problem with this slow-cooked, hand-pulled pork shoulder. His special sauce is well-rounded, but not too tangy or spicy, allowing the meat's sweet flavor to come right through. Just heat and serve. * Ancho-Rubbed Skirt Steak: Art's ideal marriage of flavor and texture starts with Allen Brothers' flavorful, firm and juicy skirt steak. He adds ancho chilies and a bit of brown sugar. The result is a perfectly harmonized balance of earthy, spicy, smoky and sweet that's as delicious when skillet-cooked on your stovetop as it is when grilled. * Tomato Pie: This pie isn't a dessert, but it tastes as good as one. Cheddar and Parmesan cheese are baked into the flaky crust and the filling of cherry tomatoes, onions and more cheese is layered into an irresistible treat. Ideal as an appetizer or a first course, or pair it with a salad for a casual meal. Ready to bake -- just pop it in the oven. * Hummingbird Cake: This delectable banana cake with cream cheese icing and pecans is Art's trademark dessert.

Back to the Family, Smith's just-published cookbook reflects his belief that "Sharing a meal with people you love is timeless and one of life's most fulfilling pleasures."

"Our 'Back to the Family' dishes are prepared with top-quality ingredients and two unwavering commitments to excellence; Art's and ours," said Todd Hatoff, president of Allen Brothers.

More About Art Smith: * In addition to serving as Oprah Winfrey's personal chef, Art has many other stellar culinary credentials. He is a guest on the Food Network, the Today Show and the Oprah Winfrey Show. He is also a contributing editor to O, The Oprah Magazine and he has cooked for many celebrities and their families around the world. * Art won the James Beard award for his New York Times best-selling cookbook, Back to the Table, and his other previous book, Kitchen Life; Real Food for Real Families, received the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for "Best Family and Children's Cookbook." * The James Beard Foundation has named Art Smith its 2007 Humanitarian of the Year. * Chicago Magazine named Art Smith and his partner, renowned artist Jesus Salqueiro, 2006 Chicagoans of The Year for establishing Common Threads, a non-profit organization that uses cooking and the arts to teach children the value of diversity, nutrition and physical well-being. More About Allen Brothers: * Allen Brothers, of Chicago, has been the leading supplier of USDA Prime aged beef to the nation's finest steakhouses and restaurants for decades. * Allen Brothers' catalog and Web site offer the nation's consumers an unmatched selection of its "best of the best" USDA Prime aged steaks and roasts, all individually hand cut by its master butchers. * In addition, Allen Brothers is the source of hundreds of the finest gourmet foods available, most of them exclusives, from the highest quality meats and seafood to elegant appetizers, lobsters, Kobe-style beef, precooked classic entrees, artisan cheeses and irresistible desserts.

CONTACT: Sanford Teller of Sanford Teller Communcations,
+1-212-717-0332; or Mark Felix of Allen Brothers, 1-800-548-7777

Web site: http://www.allenbrothers.com/