Customer Reviews

Nick Stellino's Mediterranean Flavors

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Unlike many cookbooks we have purchased there is no need for a mail order source for ingredients. Very affordable shopping lists with easily found ingredients leading to excellent results. The Hummus and Tabbouleh are better than that at a local Lebanese restaurant that is touted for these condiments. My wife made the Ginger Tuna which was a revelation to us.( I only knew tuna came in a can, which had no resenblence to the great steaks using mostly pantry items.)The Spanish Chicken with Almond Sauce had nutmeg and cinnamon notes that made a great cold noghts meal. The Lemon Souffle with Blueberry Sauce (using frozen blueberries) hit the right note bringing a bright fresh color, texture and flavor to the table.

Again a strong point is the repeated use of ingredients rather than having to buy something that will languish in your cupboard never to be used again. Cauliflower with Nutmeg, and Ginger Glazed Carrots as examples. I can't be the only one who has thrown away a ginger root that was long forgotten in the fridge after a once in a great while stir-fry.

Look at the sample pages and the photos. The food tastes as good as it looks. As to Stellinos "chat" you can look at a recipe for yourself in the samples to see what you think. I think he sets a great tone for inviting you into his kitchen to bring new flavors to your family that are easy, affordable and satisfying.

This book has been the best buy for me as far as cook books are concerned. For somebody like myself who has started cooking for the first time in her life, the recipes in this book are so easy to follow and the results are incredible! I can confidently try one of Nick Stellino's recipes for the first time, even if I am cooking for my guests, and know for sure, that it is going to turn out well and not leave me feeling embarrased! For anyone who has not had a chance to try this book ( or any of his other books I'm sure! ), they are missing out a good deal!

I also have ALL of Nick Stellino's cookbooks. This one is at the top of my list (along with CUCINA AMORE, and FAMILY KITCHEN, it's so hard to choose!). One thing they all have in common is how organized they are, presented in table of contents by category to find what you're looking for quickly---soups, entrees, side dishes, appetizers, desserts, etc.. Once there, in this particular book, each recipe is listed by name along with the page number--no need to even thumb through the section at all. The "Chicken with Garlic sauce" is 5 star. Even my simplest vegetable dishes have improved, and w/o any additional effort. Broccoli and carrots have never tasted as good nor looked so appetizing. Goodbye to boiling and steaming! In summary I'd have to simply state that there is something new to find in each of his cookbooks, one book doesn't cover it all; but this book is as good a place to start as anywhere. Like all journeys, it starts with the first step, and in this case, your first Nick Stellino cookbook...your journey will not end there once you start!

I own all of Mr Stellino's cookbooks, and this one is my favorite. Every recipe I have made is wonderful, better than any restaurant. I use all four cookbooks often, and honestly have not had one recipe that I, or my husband, disliked. I am so happy I discovered this fabulous chef, and happier that he has shared his culinary expertise with the public. Purchase all four cookbooks, you will not be disappointed.

I haven't made too many recipes from this book yet, but I plan to. I was looking for a sauce to put over a plain burger and I found it here. Absolutely wonderful! Dress up plain chicken or beef with this winner and turn something commonplace into a gourmet meal. I love the chit-chat of the author as well.

Stellino is passionate about the cuisine he grew up with from Sicily and wants to share it with homecooks. So, his style is to minimize ingredients, techniques and equipment so that all flavor is there, but without much of the fuss.

As but one example from this great collection from the Mediterranean: Moraccan Chicken and Almond Pie, simplified using phyllo sheets and chicken, is heavenly concoction of Moroccan spiciness with cumin, cinammon, et al. Meditteranean Shepherd's Pie substitutes beef stew meat, chicken thighs and Italian sausage for the traditional lamb pie, topped with Romano cheese crust! Along with entrees are wine suggestion.

Appetizers are highlighted by unbelievable Shrimp Fritters with Spicy Mayonnaise sauce, while favorite from Pasta offerings is Cannelloni with Prosciutoo and Zucchini, which is rich combo of garlic and cheese and ham.

Desserts are well represented by such as Chocolate Zabaglione which features strawberries with delectable Marsala pudding cream. Yummo! Also try the Coffee Cheesecake and Ricotta Raisin Tart.

This like each of Nick's cookbooks provides the home gourmet with ample sophisticated recipes that aren't above what I would determine a medium skill level at the max, but turn out consistently fine, flavorful dishes that are unique and memorable.

My mom says you can tell how good a cookbook is by how messy the pages are. If that's the case then one look at my copy of Nick Stellino's book would speak volumes. I have really been pleased with everything I have tried out of the book. The food has a gourmet feel with out being pretencious or overwhelming. Excellent!

This book contains a fabulous variety of delicious dishes -- every time I try something new, I'm impressed! The recipes are easy to make with enough ingredients to make them interesting without requiring a lengthy and expensive shopping trip.

I really like this book; every recipe we've tried has been excellent. The main dish pastas are very different from spaghetti & meatballs (which I also love, by the way). It's been fun, fun, fun in the kitchen as we've tried pastas with spicy cauliflower, eggplant & zucchini, sundried tomatoes & pinenuts, artichokes & leeks, etc. There's such a variety, and as other reviewers said, the ingredients are "normal" things that regular home cooks are likely to have in their pantries. We don't have to scour the market for esoteric and expensive items that we'll never use again. Love that.
Also, I've got to mention a couple of the desserts. The chocolate-orange mascarpone is rich and lovely, and the baklava is the best I've ever had in my life. Fabulous.
I also like that Nick tells a few stories. It's a nice way to connect the readers to the food he grew up with. He and Lydia Bastianich have become my favorite cooks. Try them both, you won't be disappointed.

Any fan of public television would recognize Nick Stellino as the humourous and good-hearted chef of the popular series, Cucina Amore. In his book, Mediterranean Flavors, Nick Stellino recreates some of his most famous dishes from the show. The dishes are easy and fun, even for those most inept in the kitchen (that would be me). He emphacizes that there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to creating your own culinary masterpieces. It's your kitchen, and, in the end, YOU will be the one eating your creation, so have fun with it. As with his television show, Stellino writes with a dash of humour and a pinch of love. One of the most precious elements of the books are the fabulous, mouth-watering pictures. Even for those of us who pride ourselves on our knowledge of the neighborhood restaurants more than our knowledge around the kitchen, Mediterranean Flavors would make a beautiful coffee table book.