Carluccio's Complete Italian Food - Hardcover

Carluccio, Antonio; Carluccio, Priscilla

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1899988319 ISBN 13: 9781899988310

Publisher: Quadrille Publishing Ltd, 1997

Synopsis

From one of the greatest authorities on the culinary products of Italy comes this definitive guide for the Italian food devotee. Illustrated with more than 300 color photographs and supplemented with 200 classic recipes, "Carluccio's Complete Italian Food" provides detailed descriptions of nearly every natural ingredient or prepared product made or used it Italy. Each of 11 main food types is traced to its origins in an introduction that describes the product's history, techniques of agriculture and production, varieties and specialties, and regional differences. Each introduction is followed by an A-Z dictionary to that category of food. The Pasta section reveals the exact differences between "fettuccine" and "tagliatelle"; Dairy Products distinguishes between "pecorino romano" and "pecorino sardo" (from Sardinia); and Vegetables and Legumes describes the many ways in which the essential tomato is preserved. Finally, every section offers a selection of authentic recipes for soups, appetizers, sauces, main courses, pastas, breads, or desserts--each using the particular ingredients and terms presented in the chapter. An appendix of Italian wines and other drinks, especially those used in cooking, completes the book. With infectious enthusiasm, Antonio Carluccio reveals a lifetime of knowledge about Italian food and his passionate belief that Italy has one of the richest cuisines in the world. His message is that a meal, however humble or extravagant, starts with the land or sea in which its ingredients originate. "Carluccio's Complete Italian Food" is a resource, food dictionary, and cookbook that will be used time and again by anyone interested in the unequaled Italianculinary tradition.

About this title

Review

Maestro Carluccio hits the spot again with Complete Italian Food. Despite the title, it is not a comprehensive encyclopedia--how could it be, at 320 pages?--but a personal sampling of Italian food as it is still produced by traditional methods using traditional skills and materials: "real Italian food, where it comes from and why it tastes the way it does". Rather than work his way through the 20 regions of Italy, Carluccio has chosen to start with the foodstuffs themselves. A chapter is devoted to each category: Fish & Shellfish; Eggs, Poultry & Game; Fresh & Cured Meats and so on. Each contains an account of the place these foods hold in Italian culture and an A-Z of the most common individual ingredients, describing each briefly and noting differences in approach from region to region. A selection of recipes follows. It is with these that the book really rises to the heights. How does Carluccio do it? He seems to be able effortlessly to extract from the huge number of available recipes just those that will show up both the beauty of Italian food and its great range. The mushroom dishes are a good example of the deceptive simplicity at work here (fungi are a passion of Caluccio's): Taglierini Pasta with White Truffle; Procini in Oil; Cured Mixed Wild Mushrooms; Baked Kid with Cardoncelli; Judas Ears Sauteed with Garlic and Pasley; Grilled Porcini Caps with Garlic... So it continues, contributing to a wonderfully judicious and informative book. --Robin Davidson

Review

A beautiful, informative book - a must for all lovers of Italian food --Good Housekeeping

A delight to read, look at and cook from --Sainsbury's Magazine

The ultimate compendium of Italian ingredients, produce and recipes --Publishing News

A delight to read, look at and cook from --Sainsbury's Magazine

The ultimate compendium of Italian ingredients, produce and recipes --Publishing News

Edition details

• Publisher: Quadrille Publishing Ltd
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 1899988319
• ISBN 13: 9781899988310
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 400