recommended cookery book

Posts

- 15/02/2008 10:01

Anyone looking for a really nice cookbook cant go wrong with Francesco's Kitchen, loverly authentic italian book, well written with beautifully illustrated photos of Italian life. A great book for Mother's Day!.....

lottiep - 03/04/2008 13:16

Thanks for the tip-off. I know it's too late for Mother's Day, but I thought I might try it for my sister's birthday as it sounds like she'd love it. Is it the one by Peter Pezzelli? It's the only likely one I could see on Amazon? Thanks!

daisydaze - 08/04/2008 12:05

It's actually called 'Francesco's Kitchen' and is written by Francesco da Mosto who had a TV series on BBC2. It's a really nice recipe book and would make a lovely present.

lottiep - 08/04/2008 13:20

Thanks for that - I was searching for Francesca's Kitchen, rather than Francesco! It looks great - definitely something my sister will like (and that I may be tempted to borrow from time to time!)

- 14/04/2008 14:30

sorry lottiep, I have been busy and did'nt get to see your reply, about 'Francesco's Kitchen' cookbook. I actually bought mine form 'The Book People', and only paid £6.99 + p.p. I hope this helps.

lottiep - 14/04/2008 14:54

I haven't got round to buying it yet, so many thanks for the tip-off. Sounds like good value - it might even be worth me buying two at that price!

- 15/04/2008 18:22

Two other cookery books worth buying at bargain price, one is from my favourite Italian Chef Gennaro Contaldo 'Gennaro's Italian Year' and 'Fantastico' from Gino De Campo. Again I bought mine from 'Thebookpeople' Take a look, you will not be disappointed.

nemorino - 17/04/2008 01:31

I enjoy (and use often) Jamie Oliver's Italian cookery book. It's full of excellent recipes, beautifully illustrated, spills over with genuine love for its subject and - albeit buried at times beneath Jamie's somewhat colloquial style - demonstrates a serious commitment to teaching us about the exciting diversity of regional cuisines in Italy.

The Silver Spoon is comprehensive, combines the aspirational with the decidedly domestic in a most pleasing way (sometimes you just want a decent recipe for a stew) - but lacks a little context.

Giorgio Locatelli's recent book brings together the best points of the other two in a most satisfactory way.

Every page rings with authenticity, and Locatelli succeeds brilliantly in bringing his rich culinary heritage to life in an informative, to-the-point manner which neither patronises his readers nor dispirits them with professional restauranteur tricks unsuited to domestic cooking.

Yes, it is expensive. But this handsome publication is a worthwhile investment for anyone interested in the detail and context of what Elizabeth David would have called genuine cooking.

To note in passing that Mrs David's own groundbreaking book 'Italian Food' - first published in 1954! - remains a very worthy addition to any cook's library. Her typically caustic remarks about what passed for Italian-style cooking available in 'Italian' restaurants in the UK or as promulgated in recipes by the popular magazines of the day remain relevant today, when we're now encouraged not to cook, but to cheat at cooking.

As much as anything a timely rejoinder to Delia's dismaying injunction, Giorgio Locatelli's work is a welcome and necessary reminder why, really, we should not.

- 17/04/2008 08:47

'Pistachio Ice Cream' - Does anyone know if you can buy it in the supermarket here in the UK. ? Ice Cream seems to be an art in Italy, and renowned for it ice creams. Italians dont seem to eat there ice cream after a meal as a dessert. The ice cream is a social thing, visiting their favourite gelateria. I guess the weather plays a part in it, as do the Italian's spending more time outdoors, and of course the 'passeggiata' in the evenings. Maybe it is a good thing I dont eat ice cream very often as I am sure the pounds would pile on!! But must admit that when I am in Italy on holiday the 'Gelateria' is one of the first places to visit!!

ncooper - 17/04/2008 11:35

Highly recomment Made In Italy: Food and Stories, the latest by Giorgio Locatelli. It has just been released in Paperback, available for a good price from Amazon! Also, no kitchen complete without The Silver Spoon, but I guess most people who read this already have it !

cinquecento - 30/04/2008 13:23

Another couple of recommendations: The Top One Hunderd Pasta Sauces by Diana Seed - I first bought it in 1987 and have continued to use it since - don't be put off by the title - it has really good proper italian recipes. I would also recommend Truly Italian by Ursula Ferrigno - a vegetarian recipe book with some tasty dishes that would appeal to vegetarians and carnivours alike.

Both of these have easy to follow recipes.

Happy cooking!