Toscana Mia: The Heart and Soul of Tuscan Cooking [Hardcover]

Umberto Menghi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2001

In Tuscany, food, family, love, lore, and belonging are all one--and Umberto Menghi imparts this wisdom to those fortunate students who attend his cooking school in Villa Delia, an enchanting Tuscan farmhouse. There they learn the personality of each ingredient, develop a feel for quantities and combinations, and cultivate a new set of instincts to bring back to their own kitchens. If you're not lucky enough to get to Italy and have this top chef teach you firsthand, open these pages for a banquet of over 100 traditional Tuscan dishes he watched his mother and grandmother prepare for years. Commentaries, full of fondness and memory, place the foods in context. Among the mouthwatering sensations, shown in 120 luscious photos: a delicious stuffed zucchini, "my mother's style," with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and several recipes incorporating white beans--a staple in the Tuscan household. Plus: advice on buying and growing your ingredients. Umberto Menghi is a chef, restaurateur, and author of several books on Italian cuisine.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Lying south and east of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany offers a hearty, meaty cuisine currently popular because of the host of American tourists who crowd the region and the number of recent best-sellers about life in the small farms and villages that dot the hilly Tuscan landscape. Vancouver chef Umberto Menghi grew up in Tuscany, and he recalls in Toscana Mia the rich produce of land and sea that makes Tuscan cooking unique in Italy. Like most Mediterranean cuisines, Tuscan cooking depends on fresh local ingredients such as good olive oil, flavorful vegetables, and the best meats and seafood. Game plays a big part in Menghi's cooking, with hare, boar, and venison all putting in an appearance. Other meats star in a hearty Bollito Misto, a melange of boiled sausage, chicken, beef shank, and tongue that makes a great Sunday family feast. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Vancouver, BC

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre (June 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550547216
• ISBN-13: 978-1550547214
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 10 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,965,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference for fans of Tuscan cooking, April 18, 2006

By 

Amalfi Coast Girl (Mid-Atlantic, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toscana Mia: The Heart and Soul of Tuscan Cooking (Hardcover)

If you have been to Toscano and loved the food, then buy this book. Reading this book and looking at the pictures is just like being transported back to Tuscany. If you are looking to expand your collection of authentic Italian cookbooks this book will make an excellent addition to your collection.

The directions are well written and easy to follow. Each of the recipes that I have tried has been fabulous. The Mushroom Carpaccio is a knock out of a recipe. The recipe for Pureed Vegetable Soup with Parmesan Foam is also a winner. If you are fan of potatoes, the Mashed Potatoes baked with eggs and cheese is also fabulous.

There is a recipe in the back of the book for making your own wine vinegar that I am dying to try. Who knew that you could make a mother from broken spaghetti? That recipe has me really intrigued; I just haven't tried it yet.

I love the stories of growing up in Tuscany, and the beautiful pictures of the Tuscan countryside. This book is a winner for anyone that has traveled to Tuscany and fallen in love with the food and the people.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves Tuscany, or wants to.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Italian, July 27, 2007

By 

M. Molen "Hoosier Girl" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Toscana Mia: The Heart and Soul of Tuscan Cooking (Paperback)

The recipes are very good and easy to follow. The basics in the back of the book are fabulous for making up ahead of time to keep on hand. The Tiramisu recipes is really easy to make and very delicious. The stuffed zucchini are very healthy and taste great, even the kids will these! I highly recommend this cookbook.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recipes come with extensively detailed instructions, October 18, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toscana Mia: The Heart and Soul of Tuscan Cooking (Paperback)

Written by Umberto Menghi (a professional chef and restaurateur who grew up in Tuscany, Italy), Toscana Mia: The Heart And Soul Of Tuscan Cooking is a splendid cookbook that celebrates Italian (and especially Tuscan) culinary traditions with its savory and taste-tested recipes. From Deep-Fried Cauliflowers; Florentine Cannelloni; and Tuscan Braised Beef; to Pureed Vegetable Soup with Parmesan Foam; Saffron Risotto with Pumpkin; and Tuscan Ring Cake, the recipes come with extensively detailed instructions, as well as recommended wines and producers to accompany fine dining. Toscana Mia is very highly recommended for any kitchen cook interested in exploring exquisite Tuscan flavors and styles.