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Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy - A Feast of 175 Regional Recipes
by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich
Alfred A. Knopf
ISBN 978-0-307-26751-1
Published October 2009 - Hardcover - 413 pages - $35.00

I love Italian food and I enjoy Lidia's cooking show on PBS.  I like it because not only do we get to watch her make delicious dishes, she also often takes us on a trip to Italy.  Rather like a gastronomic travelogue.  Also, on television I like how she explains certain foods and shows us the best way to handle and prepare them.  Starting in Trentino-Alto Adige, she works her way through the likes of Veneto, Lombardy, Tuscany, Umbria, Molise, and all the way down south to Calabria.  Sardinia is also included.  Lidia offers a vivid description of each region complete with topography, cultivations, foods found/grown there, the people, the climate, as well as some of the towns and cities.  Wonderful for any potential traveler/foodie wishing to visit some of these areas.  Imagine: touring and sampling food you've already heard about!  Lidia's passionate about her homeland and the food there, just watch any of her television shows, and the recipes she's included in her book reflect that passion.  She offers the likes of Cauliflower & Potato Salad (sounds wonderful); Soup with Bread & Fontina Pasticciata; Layered Casserole with Beef, Cabbage & Potato; Sweet & Sour Little Onions; Zucchini with Anchovies & Capers; Bucatini with Sausage, and Almond Biscotti.  All new regional recipes for us to try making at home.  Lidia's love of all things Italian is really infectious, and I felt a distinct trip to Italy coming on.
Sparsely illustrated with both food and pictures of the regions and towns.  No nutritional guides.
Visit Lidia's website.
Conclusion - A beautiful tribute to a beautiful country full of delightful food and sights.