For the elegant, enterprising hostess -- although she can do all the cooking in advance (some of those at the ""last minutes"" will be longer than just that) -- spreads from brunches to late suppers, from fish fries to patio parties, for numbers from eight to twelve. No doubt the 84 color halftones will help reinforce the general idea that this is sumptuous stuff of all international denominations and usually many ingredients -- not for your ""she goes to business"" (ecch) bride who can at best assemble a candelit casserole for two.