Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0593013778 ISBN 13: 9780593013779

Publisher: Bantam Press, 1987

Revised, updated, and illustrated with new photography, this is the seminal work on Italian cooking—its regions, ingredients, and techniques This classic book leaves no stone unturned in its exploration of Italian gastronomy. Anna del Conte, the doyenne of Italian cooking, defines the country's regions, ingredients, dishes, and techniques for a new generation in her comprehensive explanation of its culinary terms. The 200 recipes include the great dishes from every major region of Italy. Variations on the classics—pasta, polenta, gnocchi, risotto, and pizzas—sit alongside Anna's recipes for versions of Italian favorites, such as peperonata, lamb fricasee, and ossobucco. Specially commissioned photographs of the dishes and illustrations of the ingredients and techniques make this a truly unique and invaluable book. Includes dual measures.

About the Author:

Anna del Conte was born in Milan. Her books include Classic Food of Northern Italy, which won the Guild of Food Writer's Book Award, and The Edible Mushroom Book. In 1994 she won the prestigious Premio Nazionale de Cultura Gastronomica Verdicchio d'Ora Prize for dissemination of knowledge about authentic Italian food. In 2010 she won the Guild of Food Writers Lifetime Achievement Award. Laura Edwards is the photographer for Kitchin Suppers.

From Booklist:

In any contest to name America's favorite ethnic food, Italian surely wins hands down. Spaghetti, pizza, and Parmesan cheese are as much yearned for as comfort foods as hamburgers or apple pie. Genuine Italian cooking may be subtler and more refined than most Americans understand, but increasing sophistication in American taste has expanded demand for more Italian dishes to polenta, fresh mozzarella, and similar Italian basics. Anna Del Conte has written a new approach to Italian cooking for Americans that, while not ignoring the obvious regionalism of Italian cuisine, seeks to find common ground for the cooking of the entire peninsula. Gastronomy of Italy begins by summarizing each region's contributions to the national whole and offering a list of each province's most typical dishes. Brilliant photographs accompany recipes to make these foods more appealing. Recipes call for ingredients easily found in most city markets. A glossary of common Italian foods helps sort out such issues as salted versus canned anchovies as well as obscure regional products. A smaller list of techniques and cooking terms defines kitchen processes. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved