Leone's Italian cookbook.

This is a book that my kitchen cannot do without. Two copies have fallen apart in use since 1967 and one I presented to my daughter (she uses it all the time). While many of the recipes are complicated they are based on the wonderful cuisine served at Mama Leone's Restaurant and are meticulously tested for home use. They are clearly written so they are worth making even if they seem difficult. The results always justify the work. Today I am ordering my fourth copy. Viva Leone!

My mother has the 1967 edition of this cookbook and gave it to me when she could no longer cook. I never really looked at it until last year and from that point on, I use it almost every day. Not only are the recipes easy to prepare, but it offers up dishes I had never heard of before: Stracciatella, Bugie, and Salsa di Olio di Olive, Aglio e Acciughe per Spaghettini (our favorite). I am not of Italian descent so apart from spaghetti and meatballs and lasagne, I have "converted" through this wonderful cuisine. Another plus-side dishes and what wines to serve are often included in a lot of the recipes, making it easy to impress your friends and family at the dinner table. If you love Italian food, then buy this cookbook. You will not be sorry.

Mamma Leone's was a classic Italian restaurant a couple blocks from Times Square. Unfortunately, Mamma's is gone, but her son has captured the delights from the restaurant's menu. You will have to imagine the plastic grapes hanging from ceiling, but the wonderful dishes can all be found in the book. The recipes are easy to follow and the book is nicely organized. Leone's can make the novice cook look like a five star chef.

This cookbook is so good I lost my original copy in a divorce! It contains excellent recipes for everything you need to entertain Italian style. I highly recommend the cheesecake for those of you with a kind-of sweet tooth. It mixes the classic cream cheese with ricotta for a whole new smooth flavor of cheesecake. It helps to have some natural cooking skill, but many recipes are quite simple. Get the book, a bottle of Chianti, and create food your guests will swear came straight from Mama Leone's kitchen.

This cookbook produces the most delicious food I've ever tasted. However, inexperienced cooks or those who like to cook quick meals will probably not enjoy this book. All of the recipes require fresh ingredients (nothing canned, frozen or dried) and some of the ingredients needed are not even available in my town. Also, the recipes can take hours or even days to prepare. For anyone who wants to go through the trouble, though, the food is definitely worth it.