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Italy
Breaking Bread in L'Aquila
Maria Filice
First time cookbook author, Toronto raised Maria Filice, found her passion for food and travel through her late husband, and has since put together this collection of traditional recipes and personal stories about their time together in Italy. Arranged by day of the week, each chapter offers a full Italian feast from antipasti to dolci, but recipes stand well on their own, or mixed and matched into your own dinner menu. Colour photos. Hardcover, 142 pp. $29.95.
Recipes from an Italian Summer
Silver Spoon Kitchen
Another spinoff from The Silver Spoon, this book, lavishly illustrated with colour photos of food and landscapes, captures the simplicity and intense flavours of the traditional dishes of an Italian summer. From rice salads to stuffed tomatoes, and fruit fritters with champagne, these recipes demand the freshest ingredients at the peak of their season. Hardcover, 431 pp. $45.00.
Hudson Valley Mediterranean
Laura Pensiero
Produce stars in this collection of recipes celebrating Hudson Valley foods, especially those used at Gigi Trattoria, and Gigi Market and Catering. The result is a perfect marriage between New York State fruits and vegetables and traditional Italian recipes. Hardcover, 317 pp. $39.00.
Ristorante Fellini
Tony Percuoco
Neapolitan traditions meet the Pacific Ocean in Australia Coast restaurant, Ristorante Fellini. While this is a showcase for fish and seafood recipes, there are also equally appealing rice and pasta, meat and game dishes. Superb photography. Hardcover, 175 pp. $48.50.
Valvona & Crolla: A Year at an Italian Table
Mary Contini
Edinburgh deli Valvona & Crolla has long been a foodie standard for excellent Italian imported goods, as well as foods sourced from all over Scotland. Their first cookbook is as one would expect: wonderful Italian recipes prepared using great ingredients, and cooked seasonally. Recipes range from full meals like salt cod with chickpeas and potatoes, or rose veal with aubergine and mozerella, to simply prepared sides such as chillies preserved in oil or sauteed spinach with lemon and garlic.Colour photos, but not accompanying every recipe. Hardcover, 320 pp. $50.95.
Why Italian's Love to Talk About Food
Elena Kostioukovitch
A.A. Gill once described the Italians as the most conservative eaters in the world; anything from outside the traditions of their own region, or even village, is considered foreign, and cooks there tend to favour Italian food over anything else the world has to offer. In this tome on Italian food Elena Kostioukovitch examines each region of Italy in minute detail to discover what makes their food and traditions different. In a culture where to speak is to speak of food, and locals are fiercely proud of regional specialities, this makes for a great foodie read. Colour photos, illustrations, maps, and menus. Hardcover, 449 pp. $44.00.
Stir
Barbara Lynch
Barbara Lynch grew up in a project in South Boston where the food she ate came from a package or a can, until discovering a passion for cooking brought her out of trouble and to being a James Beard award winning chef and restaurant owner. In this, her first cookbook, Lynch draws from an Italian tradition to create dishes such as pan fried cod with chorizo and clam ragout, braised chicken thighs with rosemary and garlic,crisped duck confit with kumquat marmalade, and yogurt panna cotta. Some colour photos. Hardcover, 335 pp. $41.95.
The Silver Spoon Pasta
For any fans of Italian cooking or Silver Spoon devotees, The Silver Spoon Pasta book should be a matter of some excitement. Expanded from the pasta section in the original Silver Spoon cookbook and with over 360 recipes this is for serious pasta fans; recipes are divided into long and short dried pasta, and cut and filled fresh pasta. There are too many recipes here to give an full representation, but they include saffron spaghetti with yoghurt, elbow macaroni with pumpkin and radicchio, and chanterelle and thyme ravioli. Some colour photos.Hardcover, 336 pp. $45.00.
Pasta Sfoglia
Ron & Colleen Suhanosky
A pasta book from the couple behind the Sfoglia restaurants (which are to be found in Nantucket as well as New York City), this book will teach you how to make fresh pasta, and then create wonderful dinners with it. Recipes such as linguine alla genovese with veal ragu and salsa verde and gnocchi with braised oxtail, ginger and cocoa set the tone for this book, with dishes which are both simple and sophisticated. Don't worry though, there's still a good old fashioned Nonna's ragu for some serious comfort eating. Full colour photos throughout. Hardcover, 204 pp. $35.95.
Seafood alla Siciliana
Toni Lydecker
The author of Serves One ($21.95)holds forth on a complete different subject. This time she serves up Sicilian seafood recipes, tales of Sicily’s fishing industry and how it has influenced seafood preparation in the new world. Although swordfish is to be avoided in the ecologically correct world, one of the most appealing recipes is a swordfish and zucchini pie. Colour photos. Hardcover, 267 pp, $45.95.
The River Café Classic Italian Cookbook
Rose Gray & Ruth Rogers
Since they opened the River Café more than 20 years ago, Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray have not only changed the face of Italian cooking in Britain and North America, they have shepherded a whole new generation of cooking stars including Arthur Potts Dawson, Sam and Sam Clark, Ben O’Donoghue, and most famously, Jamie Oliver.
Here they share not only recipes from friends, restaurants, and wineries in Italy but the memories that make these dishes so special. As with their other books, rusticity rules with the freshest ingredients a key to success. Colour photos of finished dishes, local scenes, produce, and the authors themselves. Hardcover, 413 pp. $65.00.
Quick from Scratch Italian Cookbook
Food & Wine Magazine
From Food & Wine magazine comes a book which promises good, quick, Italian cooking from scratch. There are soup and antipasti recipes for something light, and lots of pastas, risottos, meat and fish dishes which don't require too many ingredients and aren't too time intensive, from the hearty sausages, potatoes and artichoke hearts in tomato broth, to the more sophisticated tuna steaks with lemon caper sauce. A full colour picture for every recipe. Hardcover, 192 pp. $29.95.
Pizza & Wine: Authentic Italian Recipes and Wine Pairings
Leonadro Curti
Coming from a cookbook writing team made up of a chef and a food journalist this book is full of recipes for simple, traditional pizzas; the emphasis is on a thin crust and a few well chosen, good quality toppings for maximum effect. There are chapters on focaccias and side dishes as well as vegetarian, meat based, seafood pizzas, and calzones. Each pizza comes with a wine pairing and there is a dessert chapter tucked away at the end for good measure. Lots of colour photographs throughout. Softcover, 176 pp. $24.95.
Thirty Minute Pasta
Guiliano Hazan
Given his foodie lineage (he is the son of famed Italian cookbook writer Marcella Hazan) it's no surprise that Giuliano Hazan is such an accomplished cookbook author himself. Thirty Minute Pasta is a great book for those who don't want to spend a huge amount of time in the kitchen, but still want to produce something delicious at the end of the day. There are simple pasta dishes such as tagliatelle with peas as well as favourites like spaghetti carbonara and more sophisticated fare such as penne with fresh tuna and a saffron cream sauce. Lots of colour photos and a good glossary of pastas. Hardcover, 176 pp. $33.95.
Preserving the Italian Way
Pietro Demaio
Australian-born to Calabrian-born parents, Pietro Demaio presents recipes for traditional Italian preserving interwoven with the story of Australia’s Italian immigrants. Preserved vegetables and mushrooms, fish, and wines and liqueurs figure heavily in the book. Demaio also offers instructions for making salami and other cured meats. Although bread does not really fall into the preserving category, there are bread recipes and directions for building a wood-fired brick oven. Some photographs in colour and black and white. Softcover, 236 pp. $39.95.
Venezia
Tessa Kiros
Who could not love her previous books Apples for Jam, Falling Cloudberries and Postcards from Portugal, Twelve these are the most beautifully designed books (the designer lives not far from our store!). Kiros captures the essence of where she writes. This latest offering is even more sumptuous in design, photographs, and of courses recipes. A treat for those who love Venice but also those who love food and dreams! Hardcover, 288 pp. $55.95. UK Import.
David Rocco's Dolce Vita
David Rocco
This is the classic story of a young lad being drawn to his grandmothers, the nonne on summer trips to Italy. A debt of gratitude to them as they have inspired a love of simple Italian food in Rocco. Lavish photography make you want to hop on the next plane! Hardcover, 368 pp. $39.95.
Urban Italian
Andrew Carmellini and Gwen Hyman
With a resume of cooking at Lespinasse, and Cafe Boulud then a year of living, eating and cooking in Italy, Carmellini came back to New York and opened the acclaimed A Voce restaurant. While the usual recipes are here there are countless exquisite variations on ingredients and dishes. His self deprecating and amusing stories of his kitchen life are quite revealing. Hardcover, 311 pp. $38.50.
Amarcord: Marcella Remembers
Marcella Hazan
An icon to many cooks and chefs, Marcella transformed our Italian cooking skills. This memoir takes us back to her youth and all her influences known and unknown. Hardcover, 307 pp. $30.00.
Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites
Giada DeLaurentiis
In Giada De Laurentiis's collection of 100 new recipes, she focuses on fresh ingredients, simple preparation, and bright flavor. Anyone who wants to indulge in the pleasures of italian food without feeling weighed down will find inspiration for delicious, hearty yet healthy weekday meals. Hardcover, 240 pp. $37.00.
Italian Grill
Mario Batali
As those old Dominion store commercials said, ”It’s mainly because of the meat.” While the antipasti and vegetable side dishes here do appear delicious, it is the huge hunks of well-seasoned meat that are irresistible. Whether it is spit-roasted prime rib, pork shoulder, veal chops, or leg of lamb, it looks like something you would want to try. Other than the seasoning, the recipes have few ingredients, and require little preparation. Colour photos with most of the recipes. Hardcover, 246 pp. $31.95.
 One Pot Italian Cooking
Massimo Capra
A good-natured fixture of the Toronto restaurant scene , Massimo Capra presides over Mistura, celebrated for fine risotto. Here he brings us hearty one dish cooking inspired by his childhood in Cremona. Beginning with soups and culminating with chocolate risotto and zabaglione, this is a collection of recipes that will keep you warm all winter. Colour and b & w photos. Softcover, 192 pp. $29.95.
Fantastico! Little Italian Plates and Antipasti from Rick Tramonto's Kitchen
Rick Tramonto
In Fantastico! chef Rick Tramonto highlights Italy's casual cooking and antipasti in recipes that are great for entertaining but also suitable for weeknight suppers or lunch. Crostini and bruschetta are paid their due, but there are also tempting braised vegetables and meats, grilled sausages and a chapter featuring Italian cheeses that will up the ante at your next holiday gathering. Colour photographs. Softcover, 274 pp. $44.00.
Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen
Gina De Palma
Gina De Palma, pastry chef at Babbo in New York city, brings both classic Italian
desserts and favourites from the restaurant to cooks interested in life beyond
tiramisu. She gives some background on what constitutes Italian sweets, baking
tips, and also anecdotes and history about special desserts and festivals. Colour
photographs. Hardcover, 301 pp, $42.00.
Frankie Dettori's Italian Family Cookbook
Frankie Dettori & Marco Pierre White
The diminutive Dettori made his name in England as a jockey. Frequently
in Tatler’s society pages, he is a partner with Marco Pierre White
in a group of Italian family restaurants. These simply classic recipes
are all about high flavour and minimal preparation. Spaghetti Bolognese,
garlic bread with rosemary, several variations of pizza,bollito misto
with salsa verde, and crostata di fruitta make for truly memorable
family. Colour photos. Hardcover, 224 pp. $55.00.
Ciao Italia: Slow and Easy
Mary Ann Esposito
Fans of Mary Ann Esposito's PBS show Ciao Italia will find plenty to cook in this book, which focusses on slow-cooked one dish meals. Recipes such as Skillet Lasgne with Artichokes and Cheese and Sicilian-Style Chicken Pie are just what's needed on a cold winter's night. Clear layout and straightforward preparation make this book one to turn to when you're low on energy and ideas. Hardcover, 142 pp. $32.50.
Vivo e: The Fish Markets of Sicily
Andrea Zanfi, photographs by Gio Martorana
There is text to peruse in this book including a glossary of the fish sold in Sicilian market stalls. However, it is really the stunning photographs that really tell the story of Sicily’s fish markets and the culture built up around them over the centuries. From the majolica fish that grace the cover to the almost transparent nunnata and the seemingly pre-historic spininess of sea urchins, this is a book breath-taking beauty. Hardcover, 267 pp, $105.95.
Oxford Companion to Italian Food
Gillian Riley
This is the first book in what is to be a regional series that will encompass
Chinese, Southeast Asia, British Isles, French cuisines. When the bibliography
runs to almost seven pages you know there has been serious research to compile
the almost 1,000 entries. A must for all those who love Italian food culture,
or just curious about a country steeped in culinary history. Hardcover, 637pp,
$36.00.
Angela Hartnett’s Cucina
Angela Hartnett
Angela Hartnett’s first book is a testament to the simplicity instilled
by her culinary mentors. Her grandmother and mother tutored her in
the rustic pleasures of the Italian family kitchen. With her mentor
Gordon Ramsay, she added refinement to simplicity. Recipes range from
biga (a fermented bread starter) to roast pigeon with sausage and date
stuffing. Colour photos. Import, hardcover, 272 pp. $59.95.
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