Wine Bar Food: Mediterranean Flavors to Crave with Wines to Match [Hardcover]

Cathy Mantuano (Author), Tony Mantuano (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 22, 2008

After the workday, in places like Seville, Milan, Barcelona, and other cities that dot the Mediterranean, people gravitate to wine bars to relax, meet friends, savor small dishes of flavorful food, and, of course, enjoy the local wines that perfectly complement the moment.

In Wine Bar Food, acclaimed restaurateurs Cathy and Tony Mantuano show you how to re-create this irresistibly appealing part of the Mediterranean lifestyle at home. Organized by city, from Lisbon to Rome, and paired with accessible wines from each region, the delightfully unpretentious, simply prepared dishes can be shared as small plates by many or make a sit-down dinner for two or more. The 100 recipes emphasize flavor and ease of preparation over strict authenticity, so you’ll be able to round up the ingredients effortlessly to create delicious meals any night of the week, including:

Flaming Ouzo Shrimp (from Athens)
Pork Ribs with Garlic, Chilies, and Tomato (from Naples)
Pea, Bacon, and Pecorino Salad (from Nice)
Amaretto Polenta Pound Cake (from Venice)

Rich with great advice on affordable wine gems and recipes for some killer wine cocktails, Wine Bar Food has everything you need to make weeknight dinners and gatherings with friends simple, fun, and flavorful affairs.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Husband-and-wife team Cathy and Tony Mantuano (chef-partners of the Spiaggia in Chicago, and authors of The Spiaggia Cookbook) share their delightful versions of wine bar recipes from across the Mediterranean. Each chapter focuses on a specific city (Rome, Seville, Nice and Lisbon, to name a few) and includes fun, fresh cocktails as well as simple yet delectable small plates and regional wine suggestions. The authors encourage mixing and matching recipes from different cities, explaining the point is to bring a little bit of the wine bar lifestyle—good food, good wine and simple technique—into your home. The couple includes background information on each dish, giving the reader a distinct sense of each recipe, all written with clear and thorough instructions. From Venice there is Whipped Baccalà with Polenta Crostini, and Black Pasta with Scungilli. Cocktail recipes include Limoncello Martinis from Naples and Mediterranean Lemonade made with ouzo, anise-flavored liqueur from Athens. Unique dessert recipes round out the assortment of options such as Mascarpone-Filled Dates with Chocolate and Lavender Ice Cream Sandwiches. With excellent sections on cured meats, imported cheeses and specialty pantry items, this is a wonderful book for food and wine lovers alike. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Cathy and Tony's new take on the seemingly simple and yet immensely satisfying concept of food and wine pairings makes it easy for both the novice and the professional to get so much more than the sum of vino plus comestibles. Most interesting to me are the lesser known wines from the Iberian peninsula and the killer yet easy to make snacks that accompany them. I'll take one of everything, please.”
—Mario Batali, author of Molto Italiano

“With the popularity of small plates growing every day, this book by ‘team Mantuano’ will help you fill your table like the finest chefs do in their kitchens.”
—Bobby Flay, author of Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill Cookbook

“Having witnessed Chef Tony at work, I can safely say he is indeed a magician. Tony's approach is both elegant and breezy making this cookbook of secrets, also known as Wine Bar Food, a must-have addition to any kitchen. Plus, there are loads of delicious recipes for vegetarians like me.”
—Todd Oldham, designer

“There is no better Italian restaurant in America than Spiaggia; Tony Mantuano has always been committed to the truest flavors and finest pairings of wine for his extraordinary cuisine. Now, with Wine Bar Food, he makes that same standard of inspired excellence available to home cooks and wine lovers everywhere.”
—John Mariani, food and travel correspondent for Esquire Magazine and author of the Dictionary of Italian Food and Drink

“I can only imagine the fun Cathy and Tony Mantuano had bar-hopping their way through Mediterranean culinary capitals researching these mouthwatering recipes that transport your mind and taste buds all at once. These bar bites are for non-fussy cooks and guests who have the confidence to enjoy what is rustic and what is local.”
—Danny Meyer, author of Setting the Table

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter (April 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030735279X
• ISBN-13: 978-0307352798
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.7 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Wine > Food & Wine
  • #59 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Meals > Appetizers
  • #76 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > European > Mediterranean

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Cookbook June 7, 2008

By Rebecca Thomas Snyder

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I actually own a wine bar and when this book came out I decided to purchase it to see if it might be helpful in inspiring new dishes at our bar. Not only have I enjoyed reading it, but the recipes are well-designed, easily duplicable, and delicious. We have adapted several for our wine bar with more to come. In addition the wine recommendations are spot on.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best April 29, 2008

By D. Nick

Format:Hardcover

After reading several reviews in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Magazine, I knew I wanted to own a copy of this cookbook. The recipes and ideas for entertaining are great. The recipes are clearly written and easy to follow and the entertaining ideas are fresh and new. I can't wait for my next dinner party to try out the mozzarella bar!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars love this book July 26, 2008

By M. Fox

Format:Hardcover

We love this book!! The recipes are easy to follow, and easy to find ingredients, and delicious. We made three more last night and all were enjoyed. After returning from a trip to Europe one of our overall favorite meal experiences was cichetti in Venice - this book has allowed us to replicate the food. The wine pairings are also very helpful. Please keep on writing cookbooks like this Cathy and Tony!!!