Has anyone found a truly authentic Italian cookbook?
I learned to prepare authentic Mexican food by living there for a year, and also taking classes from the pros. I was able to purchase cookbooks they recommended.
Unfortunately, I did not have time to do anything like that in Rome, but we're really dying to have some good food.
Any recommendations?
My wife and I took a Tuscan cooking class in Florence. The two ladies who run the school have a very nice pasta cookbook. It's called Pasta Italia - Italian Pasta - Region by Region by Gabriella Mari and Cristina Blasi. It's limited to pasta making and pasta dishes but it's very thorough and complete with colorful pictures of most of the recipes. Quite nice.
On PBS. Fabulous recipes. Simple, fresh Italian.
My mother is a full blooded Italian and she also runs a restaurant. As you might imagine, her cook book collection is extensive.
I've found Mario Batali's books to stay true to the authentic Italian cooking. His dishes are relatively easy to prepare and very very good. I've been cooking out of his Italian Grill cookbook that was released not too long ago, I've been more than satisfied with the results. It might be cliche since it's Batali but he is extremely authentic. Read "HEAT" by Bill Buford, it's about Batali and Italian cuisine.
Christina's of Sun Valley - she is Italian and runs a small upscale italian restaurant. Her book as well is VERY authentic and I LOVE IT! Boar, Lamb, Poultry, Risotta, Homemade Pasta's, Gelati, Sorbetto, it's all there - I've tried all sorts of new dishes and i've been very happy. This is one of my mom's favorite new recipe books.
I'll go through my mom's collection at work tomorrow, there are two cookbooks she has that are probably 20 years old, that might still be in production. They are as authentic as it gets - from curing meats, pasta doughs, techniques, to game meat, and seafood. It's a really neat book.
'The Silver Spoon', published by Phaidon. It is (and I quote from the cover)Italy's best selling cookbook for over fifty years; The bible of authentic Italian cooking. Over 2000 recipes, and is only recently published in English. This is not a coffee table cookbook with glossy pictures, but a serious, and very weighty tome....6 pounds!! US price is $70. I had to order my copy, but a good bookshop in a larger city may have it in stock.
'Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking' by Marcella Hazan is a great book.
Thanks for the responses. I will definitely hunt these books down soon! JB, looking forward to hearing more from your mum's collection.
All of Marcella Hazan's books are great. Essentials is a tutorial on the techniques and reasons for doing things certain ways. Remember that Italian cooking is regional cooking. The methods, ingredients and results vary greatly from place to place and will even chnge within villages.
Hasan's newer book, "Marcella Says" is more fine tuned for what you can find in American supermarkets. She moved to FLorida to be closer to son and grandchild.
Lynne Rossetto Kasper has some good books on NOrthern Italian cooking. Carol Field has some offerings that are good references too. I also like "Biba's Italy" by Biba Caggiano. The Silver Spoon is a massive book and is like the Better Homes and Garden cookbook here in the US. Everybody's mom has one.
Jamie Oliver's newest book is Italian with an emphasis on the rustic.
For a magazine that has good recipes and explains technique as well, try "La Cucina Italiana". It is usually available at Barnes and Noble as well as other retailers.
For years now i have thoroughly enjoyed Giuliano Bugialli's "The Fine Art of Italian Cooking" for authentic Italian recipes. the recipes tend to have a more central to northern Italy perspective - our family is from Sicily- but they are wonderful.
Lynne Rosetto Kasper's "Spendid Table" is a feast! Wonderful recipes and great stories.
Margaret - Kasper's "The Italian Country Kitchen" is also a treat.
Hi Eli,
I like Patricia Wells' Tratorria--simple Italian recipes made with fresh ingredients!
Ciao!
