Author: Elisabeth Luard
Publisher: Melville House
ISBN: 1612192696
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 562
Book Description
“The best cookbook no one’s ever heard of.” —Mark Bittman, former New York Times food columnist “One of the great cookbooks of all time.” —The Mail on Sunday The rediscovered classic cookbook on the essentials of authentic, back-to-basics European cuisine—with over 300 recipes from 25 countries, including France, Spain, Greece, Italy, and more Award-winning food writer Elisabeth Luard joyously salutes the foundations of modern Western cooking with recipes collected during more than 25 years of travel and research, many of them spent living in rural France, Spain, Greece, Ireland, and Italy. Divided into 14 sections, The Old World Kitchen includes recipes for: • Vegetable Dishes • Potato Dishes • Corner Cupboard Dishes • Noodles and Dough-Based Dishes • Barnyard and Dairy • Fish and Seafood • Poultry • Small Game • Pork • Shepherd’s Meats • Beef, Reindeer, and Grilled Meats • Breads and Yeast Pastries • Sweet Dishes • The Rustic Kitchen This definitive collection of over 300 time-tested recipes from 25 European countries is an indispensable guide to the simple, delicious, and surprisingly exotic dishes of peasant Europe.
The Old World Kitchen
Author: Elisabeth Luard
Publisher: Melville House
ISBN: 1612192696
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 562
Book Description
“The best cookbook no one’s ever heard of.” —Mark Bittman, former New York Times food columnist “One of the great cookbooks of all time.” —The Mail on Sunday The rediscovered classic cookbook on the essentials of authentic, back-to-basics European cuisine—with over 300 recipes from 25 countries, including France, Spain, Greece, Italy, and more Award-winning food writer Elisabeth Luard joyously salutes the foundations of modern Western cooking with recipes collected during more than 25 years of travel and research, many of them spent living in rural France, Spain, Greece, Ireland, and Italy. Divided into 14 sections, The Old World Kitchen includes recipes for: • Vegetable Dishes • Potato Dishes • Corner Cupboard Dishes • Noodles and Dough-Based Dishes • Barnyard and Dairy • Fish and Seafood • Poultry • Small Game • Pork • Shepherd’s Meats • Beef, Reindeer, and Grilled Meats • Breads and Yeast Pastries • Sweet Dishes • The Rustic Kitchen This definitive collection of over 300 time-tested recipes from 25 European countries is an indispensable guide to the simple, delicious, and surprisingly exotic dishes of peasant Europe.
Publisher: Melville House
ISBN: 1612192696
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 562
Book Description
“The best cookbook no one’s ever heard of.” —Mark Bittman, former New York Times food columnist “One of the great cookbooks of all time.” —The Mail on Sunday The rediscovered classic cookbook on the essentials of authentic, back-to-basics European cuisine—with over 300 recipes from 25 countries, including France, Spain, Greece, Italy, and more Award-winning food writer Elisabeth Luard joyously salutes the foundations of modern Western cooking with recipes collected during more than 25 years of travel and research, many of them spent living in rural France, Spain, Greece, Ireland, and Italy. Divided into 14 sections, The Old World Kitchen includes recipes for: • Vegetable Dishes • Potato Dishes • Corner Cupboard Dishes • Noodles and Dough-Based Dishes • Barnyard and Dairy • Fish and Seafood • Poultry • Small Game • Pork • Shepherd’s Meats • Beef, Reindeer, and Grilled Meats • Breads and Yeast Pastries • Sweet Dishes • The Rustic Kitchen This definitive collection of over 300 time-tested recipes from 25 European countries is an indispensable guide to the simple, delicious, and surprisingly exotic dishes of peasant Europe.
Back to Square One
Author: Joyce Esersky Goldstein
Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN: 9780688101220
Category : Cookery, International
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
"Since bursting onto the American food scene in the 1980s with her ground-breaking San Francisco restaurant, Square One, Joyce Goldstein has been expanding our culinary horizons and cooking habits. In her new book, Back to Square One: Old-World Food in a New-World Kitchen, this award-winning restaurateur, teacher, food columnist, and cookbook author presents a rich sampling of the global cuisine that has been her creative hallmark." "In her generous volume she shares over 240 of her favorite recipes from the multitude of regional and national traditions she has studied and cooked for years. As in her acclaimed first book, The Mediterranean Kitchen, she delves into the cuisines of Greece, Portugal, Morocco, Italy, Turkey, Spain, and France, then travels to the Balkans and the Caucasus, to South America, the Indian subcontinent, and the islands of Indonesia and Japan - a journey that celebrates the power of food to "connect us with our cultural roots." "We need to keep in touch with our own food history," she writes, "before our taste memories are lost forever."" "All of Goldstein's offerings are as exciting and direct as her globe-circling inquiry. First courses include Indonesian Hot and Sour Fruit Salad, combining citrus, mangoes, pineapple, and cucumber with Thai basil and mint, and a Latin American Ajiaco Bogotano, a creamy potato soup enriched with avocado, chicken, and corn. Goldstein happily combines Portuguese ingredients with Italian techniques in a Duck and Sausage Risotto, and turns to the traditions of the Pacific Northwest coastal Indians for Potlatch Salmon with Juniper Marinade. From Georgia (the newly independent Russian republic, not the Peach State) comes a tangy Beef Ragout, with cilantro, lemon, and walnuts." "Back to Square One shares a naturally healthy cuisine, with modest fats and ample use of grains, starches, legumes, and a cornucopia of herbs and spices. But a celebration of global gustatory pleasure calls for an occasional indulgence, and Goldstein offers desserts like Cannoli dei Sogni ("Cannoli of Dreams") and Chocolate Mouse Torte with Mocha Ganache. To toast the splendid marriage of fine food and wine, her son, Evan Goldstein, master sommelier and director of the Sterling Vineyards School of Service and Hospitality, makes detailed and enticing wine recommendations for every recipe in the volume."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN: 9780688101220
Category : Cookery, International
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
"Since bursting onto the American food scene in the 1980s with her ground-breaking San Francisco restaurant, Square One, Joyce Goldstein has been expanding our culinary horizons and cooking habits. In her new book, Back to Square One: Old-World Food in a New-World Kitchen, this award-winning restaurateur, teacher, food columnist, and cookbook author presents a rich sampling of the global cuisine that has been her creative hallmark." "In her generous volume she shares over 240 of her favorite recipes from the multitude of regional and national traditions she has studied and cooked for years. As in her acclaimed first book, The Mediterranean Kitchen, she delves into the cuisines of Greece, Portugal, Morocco, Italy, Turkey, Spain, and France, then travels to the Balkans and the Caucasus, to South America, the Indian subcontinent, and the islands of Indonesia and Japan - a journey that celebrates the power of food to "connect us with our cultural roots." "We need to keep in touch with our own food history," she writes, "before our taste memories are lost forever."" "All of Goldstein's offerings are as exciting and direct as her globe-circling inquiry. First courses include Indonesian Hot and Sour Fruit Salad, combining citrus, mangoes, pineapple, and cucumber with Thai basil and mint, and a Latin American Ajiaco Bogotano, a creamy potato soup enriched with avocado, chicken, and corn. Goldstein happily combines Portuguese ingredients with Italian techniques in a Duck and Sausage Risotto, and turns to the traditions of the Pacific Northwest coastal Indians for Potlatch Salmon with Juniper Marinade. From Georgia (the newly independent Russian republic, not the Peach State) comes a tangy Beef Ragout, with cilantro, lemon, and walnuts." "Back to Square One shares a naturally healthy cuisine, with modest fats and ample use of grains, starches, legumes, and a cornucopia of herbs and spices. But a celebration of global gustatory pleasure calls for an occasional indulgence, and Goldstein offers desserts like Cannoli dei Sogni ("Cannoli of Dreams") and Chocolate Mouse Torte with Mocha Ganache. To toast the splendid marriage of fine food and wine, her son, Evan Goldstein, master sommelier and director of the Sterling Vineyards School of Service and Hospitality, makes detailed and enticing wine recommendations for every recipe in the volume."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The Blue Zones Kitchen
Author: Dan Buettner
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 1426220146
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 308
Book Description
Best-selling author Dan Buettner debuts his first cookbook, filled with 100 longevity recipes inspired by the Blue Zones locations around the world, where people live the longest. Building on decades of research, longevity expert Dan Buettner has gathered 100 recipes inspired by the Blue Zones, home to the healthiest and happiest communities in the world. Each dish--for example, Sardinian Herbed Lentil Minestrone; Costa Rican Hearts of Palm Ceviche; Cornmeal Waffles from Loma Linda, California; and Okinawan Sweet Potatoes--uses ingredients and cooking methods proven to increase longevity, wellness, and mental health. Complemented by mouthwatering photography, the recipes also include lifestyle tips (including the best times to eat dinner and proper portion sizes), all gleaned from countries as far away as Japan and as near as Blue Zones project cities in Texas. Innovative, easy to follow, and delicious, these healthy living recipes make the Blue Zones lifestyle even more attainable, thereby improving your health, extending your life, and filling your kitchen with happiness.
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 1426220146
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 308
Book Description
Best-selling author Dan Buettner debuts his first cookbook, filled with 100 longevity recipes inspired by the Blue Zones locations around the world, where people live the longest. Building on decades of research, longevity expert Dan Buettner has gathered 100 recipes inspired by the Blue Zones, home to the healthiest and happiest communities in the world. Each dish--for example, Sardinian Herbed Lentil Minestrone; Costa Rican Hearts of Palm Ceviche; Cornmeal Waffles from Loma Linda, California; and Okinawan Sweet Potatoes--uses ingredients and cooking methods proven to increase longevity, wellness, and mental health. Complemented by mouthwatering photography, the recipes also include lifestyle tips (including the best times to eat dinner and proper portion sizes), all gleaned from countries as far away as Japan and as near as Blue Zones project cities in Texas. Innovative, easy to follow, and delicious, these healthy living recipes make the Blue Zones lifestyle even more attainable, thereby improving your health, extending your life, and filling your kitchen with happiness.
European Peasant Cookery
Author: Elisabeth Luard
Publisher: Grub Street Cookery
ISBN: 9781911667384
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 544
Book Description
There are over 500 recipes in this classic work from one of the country's most respected food writers. First published in the 1980 and twenty years in the making, now available again in a handsome new hardback edition.
Publisher: Grub Street Cookery
ISBN: 9781911667384
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 544
Book Description
There are over 500 recipes in this classic work from one of the country's most respected food writers. First published in the 1980 and twenty years in the making, now available again in a handsome new hardback edition.
Old World Italian
Author: Mimi Thorisson
Publisher: Appetite by Random House
ISBN: 0525610413
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 429
Book Description
Mimi explores the beautiful coasts and countrysides of Italy in this lavishly photographed cookbook featuring simple, authentic recipes inspired by the country's devoted producers and rich food heritage. Through her gorgeous cookbooks A Kitchen in France and French Country Cooking, a generation of readers fell in love with Mimi Thorisson, her lively family, and their band of smooth fox terriers. In their newest cookbook, the Thorissons put a pause on their lives in the idyllic French countryside to start a new adventure in Italy and satisfy their endless curiosity and passion for the magic of Italian cooking. Old World Italian captures their journey and the culinary treasures they discovered. From Tuscany to Umbria to Naples and more, Mimi dives into Italy's diverse regional cuisines and shares 100 recipes for authentic, classic dishes, enriched by conversations with devoted local food experts who share their time-worn techniques and stories. You'll luxuriously indulge in dishes culled from across the country, such as plump agnolotti bathed in sage and butter from the north, the tomato-rich ragus and pastas of the southwest, and the multi-faceted, seafood-laden cuisine of Sicily. The mysteries of Italian food culture will unravel as you learn to execute a perfect Neapolitan-style pizza at home or make the most sublime, yet elemental cacio e pepe. Full of local color, history, and culture, plus evocative, sumptuous photography shot by husband Oddur Thorisson, Old World Italian transports you to a seat at the family's table in Italy, where you may never want to leave.
Publisher: Appetite by Random House
ISBN: 0525610413
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 429
Book Description
Mimi explores the beautiful coasts and countrysides of Italy in this lavishly photographed cookbook featuring simple, authentic recipes inspired by the country's devoted producers and rich food heritage. Through her gorgeous cookbooks A Kitchen in France and French Country Cooking, a generation of readers fell in love with Mimi Thorisson, her lively family, and their band of smooth fox terriers. In their newest cookbook, the Thorissons put a pause on their lives in the idyllic French countryside to start a new adventure in Italy and satisfy their endless curiosity and passion for the magic of Italian cooking. Old World Italian captures their journey and the culinary treasures they discovered. From Tuscany to Umbria to Naples and more, Mimi dives into Italy's diverse regional cuisines and shares 100 recipes for authentic, classic dishes, enriched by conversations with devoted local food experts who share their time-worn techniques and stories. You'll luxuriously indulge in dishes culled from across the country, such as plump agnolotti bathed in sage and butter from the north, the tomato-rich ragus and pastas of the southwest, and the multi-faceted, seafood-laden cuisine of Sicily. The mysteries of Italian food culture will unravel as you learn to execute a perfect Neapolitan-style pizza at home or make the most sublime, yet elemental cacio e pepe. Full of local color, history, and culture, plus evocative, sumptuous photography shot by husband Oddur Thorisson, Old World Italian transports you to a seat at the family's table in Italy, where you may never want to leave.
The Cooking Gene
Author: Michael W. Twitty
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062876570
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 505
Book Description
2018 James Beard Foundation Book of the Year | 2018 James Beard Foundation Book Award Winner inWriting | Nominee for the 2018 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award in Nonfiction | #75 on The Root100 2018 A renowned culinary historian offers a fresh perspective on our most divisive cultural issue, race, in this illuminating memoir of Southern cuisine and food culture that traces his ancestry—both black and white—through food, from Africa to America and slavery to freedom. Southern food is integral to the American culinary tradition, yet the question of who "owns" it is one of the most provocative touch points in our ongoing struggles over race. In this unique memoir, culinary historian Michael W. Twitty takes readers to the white-hot center of this fight, tracing the roots of his own family and the charged politics surrounding the origins of soul food, barbecue, and all Southern cuisine. From the tobacco and rice farms of colonial times to plantation kitchens and backbreaking cotton fields, Twitty tells his family story through the foods that enabled his ancestors’ survival across three centuries. He sifts through stories, recipes, genetic tests, and historical documents, and travels from Civil War battlefields in Virginia to synagogues in Alabama to Black-owned organic farms in Georgia. As he takes us through his ancestral culinary history, Twitty suggests that healing may come from embracing the discomfort of the Southern past. Along the way, he reveals a truth that is more than skin deep—the power that food has to bring the kin of the enslaved and their former slaveholders to the table, where they can discover the real America together. Illustrations by Stephen Crotts
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062876570
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 505
Book Description
2018 James Beard Foundation Book of the Year | 2018 James Beard Foundation Book Award Winner inWriting | Nominee for the 2018 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award in Nonfiction | #75 on The Root100 2018 A renowned culinary historian offers a fresh perspective on our most divisive cultural issue, race, in this illuminating memoir of Southern cuisine and food culture that traces his ancestry—both black and white—through food, from Africa to America and slavery to freedom. Southern food is integral to the American culinary tradition, yet the question of who "owns" it is one of the most provocative touch points in our ongoing struggles over race. In this unique memoir, culinary historian Michael W. Twitty takes readers to the white-hot center of this fight, tracing the roots of his own family and the charged politics surrounding the origins of soul food, barbecue, and all Southern cuisine. From the tobacco and rice farms of colonial times to plantation kitchens and backbreaking cotton fields, Twitty tells his family story through the foods that enabled his ancestors’ survival across three centuries. He sifts through stories, recipes, genetic tests, and historical documents, and travels from Civil War battlefields in Virginia to synagogues in Alabama to Black-owned organic farms in Georgia. As he takes us through his ancestral culinary history, Twitty suggests that healing may come from embracing the discomfort of the Southern past. Along the way, he reveals a truth that is more than skin deep—the power that food has to bring the kin of the enslaved and their former slaveholders to the table, where they can discover the real America together. Illustrations by Stephen Crotts
Joy of Cooking
Author: Irma S. Rombauer
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0026045702
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 896
Book Description
An illustrated cooking book with hundreds of recipes.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0026045702
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 896
Book Description
An illustrated cooking book with hundreds of recipes.
Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well
Author: Pellegrino Artusi
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
ISBN: 1442690968
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 762
Book Description
First published in 1891, Pellegrino Artusi's La scienza in cucina e l'arte di mangier bene has come to be recognized as the most significant Italian cookbook of modern times. It was reprinted thirteen times and had sold more than 52,000 copies in the years before Artusi's death in 1910, with the number of recipes growing from 475 to 790. And while this figure has not changed, the book has consistently remained in print. Although Artusi was himself of the upper classes and it was doubtful he had ever touched a kitchen utensil or lit a fire under a pot, he wrote the book not for professional chefs, as was the nineteenth-century custom, but for middle-class family cooks: housewives and their domestic helpers. His tone is that of a friendly advisor – humorous and nonchalant. He indulges in witty anecdotes about many of the recipes, describing his experiences and the historical relevance of particular dishes. Artusi's masterpiece is not merely a popular cookbook; it is a landmark work in Italian culture. This English edition (first published by Marsilio Publishers in 1997) features a delightful introduction by Luigi Ballerini that traces the fascinating history of the book and explains its importance in the context of Italian history and politics. The illustrations are by the noted Italian artist Giuliano Della Casa.
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
ISBN: 1442690968
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 762
Book Description
First published in 1891, Pellegrino Artusi's La scienza in cucina e l'arte di mangier bene has come to be recognized as the most significant Italian cookbook of modern times. It was reprinted thirteen times and had sold more than 52,000 copies in the years before Artusi's death in 1910, with the number of recipes growing from 475 to 790. And while this figure has not changed, the book has consistently remained in print. Although Artusi was himself of the upper classes and it was doubtful he had ever touched a kitchen utensil or lit a fire under a pot, he wrote the book not for professional chefs, as was the nineteenth-century custom, but for middle-class family cooks: housewives and their domestic helpers. His tone is that of a friendly advisor – humorous and nonchalant. He indulges in witty anecdotes about many of the recipes, describing his experiences and the historical relevance of particular dishes. Artusi's masterpiece is not merely a popular cookbook; it is a landmark work in Italian culture. This English edition (first published by Marsilio Publishers in 1997) features a delightful introduction by Luigi Ballerini that traces the fascinating history of the book and explains its importance in the context of Italian history and politics. The illustrations are by the noted Italian artist Giuliano Della Casa.
The Clever Cookbook
Author: Emilie Raffa
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 1624142168
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 211
Book Description
Recipes for complex meals that come together in no time.Just because you're short on time doesn't mean you have to sacrifice healthy, flavorful homemade food. Thanks to Emilie Raffa's The Clever Cookbook, readers can cut down on cooking time while still creating delicious, complex meals.The highlight of the book is Emilie's incredibly delicious recipes, such as 30-Minute Chicken Piccata, No Sweat Gratin with Brown Rice, Zucchini & Tomatoes and Quick Chicken Stir-Fry with Oven Roasted Broccoli. The recipes are easy and fast, thanks to her clever shortcuts and flavor tricks.Here are some of Emilie's kitchen shortcuts:- Use a wide skillet to cook everything fast (i.e. tomato sauce, pot pie filling and meat sauce).- Cook pasta in less water-it boils faster and the extra starchy cooking liquid creates silky pan sauces. And these are some of her easy taste-boosting tricks:- Save and freeze all parmesan cheese rinds to add to soups and stews for a delicious nutty flavor.- Use the 7-6-5 method for grilling pork tenderloin-sear for 7 minutes, flip and sear for 6 minutes, shut off the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes with the lid closed. Perfectly tender pork every time!Emilie's classic culinary training, knack for creative recipes, savvy shortcuts and flavor tricks will help readers prepare mouthwatering, healthy meals quickly and with ease.
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 1624142168
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 211
Book Description
Recipes for complex meals that come together in no time.Just because you're short on time doesn't mean you have to sacrifice healthy, flavorful homemade food. Thanks to Emilie Raffa's The Clever Cookbook, readers can cut down on cooking time while still creating delicious, complex meals.The highlight of the book is Emilie's incredibly delicious recipes, such as 30-Minute Chicken Piccata, No Sweat Gratin with Brown Rice, Zucchini & Tomatoes and Quick Chicken Stir-Fry with Oven Roasted Broccoli. The recipes are easy and fast, thanks to her clever shortcuts and flavor tricks.Here are some of Emilie's kitchen shortcuts:- Use a wide skillet to cook everything fast (i.e. tomato sauce, pot pie filling and meat sauce).- Cook pasta in less water-it boils faster and the extra starchy cooking liquid creates silky pan sauces. And these are some of her easy taste-boosting tricks:- Save and freeze all parmesan cheese rinds to add to soups and stews for a delicious nutty flavor.- Use the 7-6-5 method for grilling pork tenderloin-sear for 7 minutes, flip and sear for 6 minutes, shut off the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes with the lid closed. Perfectly tender pork every time!Emilie's classic culinary training, knack for creative recipes, savvy shortcuts and flavor tricks will help readers prepare mouthwatering, healthy meals quickly and with ease.
A Tuscan in the Kitchen
Author: Pino Luongo
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
ISBN: 9780517569160
Category : Cookery, Italian
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
This exuberant, delightfully unconventional cookbook is a warm, personal collection of recipes and reminiscences of the author's native Tuscany and a guide to a spontaneous way of cooking based on good taste and common sense rather than rigid rules. In A Tuscan in the Kitchen, Pino Luongo, the creator of New York's successful Il Cantinori restaurant, presents 140 of his favorite recipes, from soups and antipasti to salads and desserts. The recipes include such tempting dishes as trout with balsamic vinegar, peasant-style risotto made with sausage and peas, roasted quail with tarragon, spaghetti with sea bass sauce, radicchio and orange salad, and baked peaches stuffed with walnuts and chocolate. Interspersed throughout in a spirited narrative are tales of his adventures as well as stories of family celebrations and the local traditions of the people who live in Tuscany's dries, hill towns, and fishing ports. Mr. Luongo shows us how to cook the Tuscan way, using a small repertoire of ingredients and a few basic techniques to create dishes that taste delicious and can be endlessly varied. The ingredients in each recipe are broken down into a three-part list: pantry staples, like olive oil, pasta, and canned plum tomatoes; cold storage items such as eggs, butter, and cheese; and a handful of market foods that need to be purchased fresh. In the recipes, he gives basic instructions and guidelines for making each dish but does not give exact quantities. For instance, a recipe for tagliatelle with fresh garden vegetables suggests a variety of vegetables and herbs; the cook decides how many and how much of each to use, according to taste. Mr. Luongo teaches us the kind of flexibilitygood cookshave always practiced and encourages us to create our own personal style of cooking -- and have a wonderful time in the kitchen, too. Filled with warmth and an irrepressible enthusiasm for life's pleasures, A Tuscan in the Kitchen is an original and inspiring cookbook.
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
ISBN: 9780517569160
Category : Cookery, Italian
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
This exuberant, delightfully unconventional cookbook is a warm, personal collection of recipes and reminiscences of the author's native Tuscany and a guide to a spontaneous way of cooking based on good taste and common sense rather than rigid rules. In A Tuscan in the Kitchen, Pino Luongo, the creator of New York's successful Il Cantinori restaurant, presents 140 of his favorite recipes, from soups and antipasti to salads and desserts. The recipes include such tempting dishes as trout with balsamic vinegar, peasant-style risotto made with sausage and peas, roasted quail with tarragon, spaghetti with sea bass sauce, radicchio and orange salad, and baked peaches stuffed with walnuts and chocolate. Interspersed throughout in a spirited narrative are tales of his adventures as well as stories of family celebrations and the local traditions of the people who live in Tuscany's dries, hill towns, and fishing ports. Mr. Luongo shows us how to cook the Tuscan way, using a small repertoire of ingredients and a few basic techniques to create dishes that taste delicious and can be endlessly varied. The ingredients in each recipe are broken down into a three-part list: pantry staples, like olive oil, pasta, and canned plum tomatoes; cold storage items such as eggs, butter, and cheese; and a handful of market foods that need to be purchased fresh. In the recipes, he gives basic instructions and guidelines for making each dish but does not give exact quantities. For instance, a recipe for tagliatelle with fresh garden vegetables suggests a variety of vegetables and herbs; the cook decides how many and how much of each to use, according to taste. Mr. Luongo teaches us the kind of flexibilitygood cookshave always practiced and encourages us to create our own personal style of cooking -- and have a wonderful time in the kitchen, too. Filled with warmth and an irrepressible enthusiasm for life's pleasures, A Tuscan in the Kitchen is an original and inspiring cookbook.