Customer Reviews

A Fresh Taste of Italy: 250 Authentic Recipes, Undiscovered Dishes, and New Flavors for Every Day

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4 star:		(1)
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As a collector of Italian cookbooks, I now count this one as one of my favorites. Michele Scicolone shares 250 wonderful recipes with very easy instructions, and adds a little extra note to each recipe. I hosted an Italian Buffet last year for 50 people, and used this book as my primary reference. The recipe for Frico (cheese wafers) and roasted Olives with Fennel and Lemon are so tasty, I serve them now with drinks everytime I entertain! This book offers a combination of both traditional Italian recipes, and those more contemporary with sometimes surprising ingredients. As the Italian Cooking Host @ Bella Online, and someone with over 150 Italian cookbooks in my collection, I would say this is definately a book to buy! My only regret is that there weren't more pictures as the ones included are so inspiring, it makes you want to run into the kitchen and start cooking.

Someone gave me a few cookbooks -- (never do this to an experienced cook!) Every time I reached for this book to bring to a recycle center some new recipe caught my eye. It's deceptive. The sidebars tell the stories you need to hear about the recipes. A tuna pesto? Sounds dull, no? It is a superb dish. A spaghetti sauce with only beets? (The cover photo tells it all.) A lentil and clam stew? Lentils with CLAMS ??? It works. It works brilliantly. This is not a basic book. But it is a wonderful addition to any Italian food library.

A Fresh Taste of Italy is a marvelous resource for an array of recipes; terminology; history; and sources of ingredients. The author paints a glamourous picture of the great diversity that exists in Italian cuisine. If you purchase only one Italian cookbook...this is the one to get.

This author is one of my favorites! She clearly knows and loves Italian food and offers wonderful recipes for the home cook. A black olive and goat cheese torta to be served alongside salad is so easy and takes minutes to make. A bean sauce for roast chicken is -- as she says -- wonderful on it's own and can be on the table within 10 minutes. Her tastes are clear and fresh, her recipes are sound and well written, her book is a wonderful addition to the shelf of any cook who loves the food of Italy and is looking for new but uncomplicated ideas. Even a beginner can make headway with this volume and dazzle family and friends with tantalizing cuisine.

I have had this since 1999, and I have only had time to "read" it. Until recently, my husband & I tried Frico and Mozarella Stuffed Cabbage. It was so good (and simple too!). I am now planning to pick up more recipes to cook for the rest of my family. Will have a party... - and they say I couldn't cook.
Aside from the recipes, Michelle includes here travel experiences - her writing style sounds so true and sincere, just enjoy her stories. Buy this and enjoy the overall feel of this book.

A wonderful book for anyone who has any degree of cooking ability. From appetizers to desserts you can find anything that you want. All of the recipes are written with easy to find ingredients. A story accompanies each recipe telling you where she found it, and gives you the feeling of being in that location as you are cooking. The best Italian cookbook that I've ever owned.

A fabulous cookbook.!!! I am of Italian descent on both sides, a fairly good cook and know good food. Delicious and easy recipes to satisfy all tastes. Have never tried a receipe in this book that wasn't excellent. I'm a fan!