Contemporary Italian: Favorite Recipes from Kuleto's Italian Restaurant

This cookbook provides a wonderful opportunity to recreate in your own home some of the delicious dishes you've enjoyed in the restaurant. I loved the "basics" features whether it be aioli, roasting garlic or making variations of marinara sauces. The recipes are very easy to follow and do not have exotic ingredients. They are reminiscent of being in Italy and enjoying wholesome, delicious foods. All you need is lots of wine and good friends to enjoy the food.

For anyone who has frequented Kuleto's restaurant on Union Square in San Francisco, this book is a MUST!! For those of you who haven't yet gotten there BUY THIS BOOK!! Full of excellent unique menues right out of the restaurant. Make their famous lamb sausage recipe and then follow their recipe to make the sausage with penne, chard and ricotta. The restaurant serves a fantastic appetiser of grilled radichio wrapped in pancetta (with a pesto ceasar dressing) that will knock your socks off - the recipe is in here and I actually drew applause at a dinner party after serving it! Try their unusual dishes like Roast Duck with Dried Cherries and Grappa, Grilled Chicken with Tuscan Bread Salad, or Salmon with Red Wine-Olive Butter...then try their standards like Eggplant Risotto or Braised Veal Shanks, or any of their great pastas. If you love great food, you will love this book. The recipes are well written and, unlike so many other books from famous restaurants, it actually duplicates their original meals!