Italy the Beautiful Cookbook: Authentic Recipes from the Regions of Italy

While in Italy this summer, we found this cookbook in the country home where we were staying. Not only did it have interesting history about the different regions of Italy, it had recipes for foods from all regions, and for all courses. The recipes were not particularly difficult, and were so distinctively Italian. I have several cookbooks featuring Italian recipes, but this one IS Italian! Fortunately, the markets in italy were able to provide all the ingredients we needed. When we returned, I ordered the book both for its beauty and for its different recipes. It is always a treat to select a recipe, prepare it, and then best of all, enjoy it! Brings back many memories of our wonderful summer.

A serious student of cooking that has been perfecting her skills over the last 25 years writes this review. I have traveled to Italy multiple times, and have spent the last 10 years perfecting my Italian cooking skills. This book is part of my collection of cookbooks that now exceed 500. I am a tough critic on Italian cookbooks. However, this book is worthy is a good review. This book is part photographic essay of Italian food and travel and part cookbook. The author writes a brief history of each region's food history in the chapters about the various regions. In the regional descriptions she tells you about the terrain of the area, the basic diet, and the various dishes that are classic to the regions. The book is subdivided as follows: 1. Nord-Ovest: Lombardi, Piemonte, Val d'Aosta, Liguria (Region 1) 2. Antipasti: Appetizers 3. Nord-Est: Veneto, Fruili-Venezia Guilia, Trentino-Alto Adige (Region 2) 4. Primi: First courses 5. Centro: Toscana, Lazio, Umbria, Marche, Emilia-Romagna (Region 3) 6. Secondi: Main Courses 7. Sud: Campania, Abruzzi, Molise, Basilicata, Puglia, Calabria (Region 4) 8. Verdure: Vegetables 9. Grandi Isole: Sicilia and Sardegna (Region 5) 10. Dolci: Desserts The recipes are all authentic, and very succinctly written. The directions are easy to follow. Some of the recipes (stuffed pastas) are a little advanced for the average cook. However, with patience and practice all of them are possible. Most (approx. 90%) of the recipes have photographs of the finished dishes included in the book. The book is well constructed, the spine is stiff and heavy, and the paper stock is thick and glossy. If you love Italy, or Italy food and/or cooking this is a beautiful book to add to your library.

ITALY: THE BEAUTIFUL COOKBOOK is just that - a book brimming with known dishes and as well as rarities from throughout Italy presented in a format so well designed, filled with excellent photography, and thorough information about the country that it could rest as comfortably on the traveler's coffee table as in the gourmet's kitchen. Lorenza De'Medici takes the reader on an insider's tour of Italy with readable maps, stunning photographs of each region, information about the peculiar characteristics of the regions that inform the recipes, and then gives some of the finest recipes you'll likely to encounter for dishes both simple and complex. As with the best of cookbooks this one contains images that show how the result of the time spent in the kitchen will look. De'Medici writes with candor and in a relaxed inviting style. This survey of Italian culinary arts and the historic background that accompanies them is as fine as any similar book on the market. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 05

I brought this book some years ago and have continued to enjoy using the book as much for recepies as for the images of Italy provided. In the introduction there is a short history of eating habits and how they evolved in Italy. A lovely map also is provided so you can see where the areas spoken about actually lie in the country. From here each section has a short introduction to the region and then the recepies follow. I have found the meals easy to make and yummy to eat. The accompaning photos are just wonderful, as they give a glimspe of Italy and stimulate the taste buds as well. Since travelling to Italy I have come to appreciate this book even more.

Italy the beautiful contains all of the classic Italian recipes. They are concise and easy to follow and written with Americans in mind. Everything I've cooked from vegatables to major main courses are delicious and maybe more importantly, the dishes look like the photographs!