Description
A Waterstones 'Best Books of 2022: Food and Drink' A Times Food and Drink Book of the Year 2022 and a Spectator Cook Book of the Year 2022 A Stylist Christmas Gift Pick 2022 'If pasta is a religion, this book is its sermon' Russell Norman, founder of Polpo and Brutto 'Rewarding ... you discover a lot about Italy here ... huge fun' Sunday Times In one shape or another, pasta has been an Italian staple since the days of ancient Rome. It has been the food of peasants, the pride of royalty and a culinary badge of honour for Italian emigrants all over the world. It's hard to imagine Italy without pasta, yet the history of the country's most famous food has changed with the fortunes of eaters and cooks alike. In A Brief History of Pasta, discover the humble origins of fettuccine Alfredo that lie in a back-street trattoria in Rome, how Genovese sauce became a Neapolitan staple and what conveyor belts have to do with serving spaghetti. Meet the people who have shaped pasta's history, from the traders who brought pesto to the world to the celebrity chef who sparked national outrage by adding an unpeeled garlic clove to his recipe for amatriciana sauce. Renowned culinary historian Luca Cesari delves into the fascinating variety of his country's best-loved food, serving up the secrets behind the creamiest carbonara, the richest ragu alla Bolognese and the tastiest tortellini.
Filled with mouth-watering recipes and engrossing tales, this is the story of Italy in ten dishes.
About the Author
Luca Cesari is a food historian based in Italy. He writes for various magazines, including Gambero Rosso, and writes the column 'Indovina chi sviene a cena' in Il Sole 24 Ore. Johanna Bishop is a translator who lives and works in Tuscany. She specialises in contemporary Italian poetry and has translated for publications including Bennington Review and the Florentine Review.
Reviews
Cesari chases the origins of pasta dishes back in time like a spaghetti detective ... If you're really interested in pasta, you should buy this book. * Daily Telegraph *
Rewarding ... you discover a lot about Italy here ... huge fun * Sunday Times *
Who knew that the history of pasta is as twisty as fusilli and as tangled as tagliatelle? Cesari tells an engaging story with his chatty and informative prose, whetting your appetite for a big bowl of Italy's favourite dish -- Ned Palmer, author * A Cheesemonger's History of the British Isles *
In this exuberant book, studded with tempting recipes, Italian food historian Luca Cesari tells the story of pasta and how it has conquered the world. * Daily Mail *
The journey towards our concept of spaghetti Bolognese or lasagna, for instance, is told as a slowly evolving chronicle, backed up by documents and great research. -- Rose Prince * Cookbooks of the Year, Spectator *
Elegant, witty and scholarly ... the nub of this deliciously subversive history is what it means to be Italian. -- Elisabeth Luard * The Oldie *
Luca Cesari delivers a fine potted history of the Italian food that shaped the world * Independent *
Lovingly curated * Ross-shire Journal *
If pasta is a religion, this book is its sermon -- Russell Norman, founder of Polpo and Brutto
Pasta was not always served al dente ... I discovered this fact, and about a thousand others, in Cesari's new book, A Brief History of Pasta, which, attentive as it is to origin stories, and thus to basics, could not make for more suitable reading right now if it tried. -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *
A glorious book, carefully and precisely skewering all of the received ideas about 'authenticity' ... It made me giggle fiendishly and occasionally punch the air -- Annie Gray, author * At Christmas We Feast *
Luca Cesari serves up a delicious combination of recipes, both ancient and modern, entertaining anecdotes, and rare insights into the diverse histories and characters of Italy's different regions. A delicious treat for anyone who wants a deeper relationship with Italy and its food -- Helena Attlee, author * The Land Where Lemons Grow: The Story of Italy and Its Citrus Fruit *
A fascinating history of one of the world's best loved foods, peppered with interesting facts like a well seasoned cacio e pepe. Through in-depth research, Cesari proves that contrary to what many purists will claim, there are no hard and fast rules when making even the best loved pasta dishes. A compelling read giving a long overdue green light to putting garlic in your Amatriciana should you so wish! -- Amber Guinness
Book Information
ISBN 9781788169394
Author Luca Cesari
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint Profile Books Ltd
Publisher Profile Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 460g
Dimensions(mm) 218mm * 140mm * 32mm
Filled with mouth-watering recipes and engrossing tales, this is the story of Italy in ten dishes.
About the Author
Luca Cesari is a food historian based in Italy. He writes for various magazines, including Gambero Rosso, and writes the column 'Indovina chi sviene a cena' in Il Sole 24 Ore. Johanna Bishop is a translator who lives and works in Tuscany. She specialises in contemporary Italian poetry and has translated for publications including Bennington Review and the Florentine Review.
Reviews
Cesari chases the origins of pasta dishes back in time like a spaghetti detective ... If you're really interested in pasta, you should buy this book. * Daily Telegraph *
Rewarding ... you discover a lot about Italy here ... huge fun * Sunday Times *
Who knew that the history of pasta is as twisty as fusilli and as tangled as tagliatelle? Cesari tells an engaging story with his chatty and informative prose, whetting your appetite for a big bowl of Italy's favourite dish -- Ned Palmer, author * A Cheesemonger's History of the British Isles *
In this exuberant book, studded with tempting recipes, Italian food historian Luca Cesari tells the story of pasta and how it has conquered the world. * Daily Mail *
The journey towards our concept of spaghetti Bolognese or lasagna, for instance, is told as a slowly evolving chronicle, backed up by documents and great research. -- Rose Prince * Cookbooks of the Year, Spectator *
Elegant, witty and scholarly ... the nub of this deliciously subversive history is what it means to be Italian. -- Elisabeth Luard * The Oldie *
Luca Cesari delivers a fine potted history of the Italian food that shaped the world * Independent *
Lovingly curated * Ross-shire Journal *
If pasta is a religion, this book is its sermon -- Russell Norman, founder of Polpo and Brutto
Pasta was not always served al dente ... I discovered this fact, and about a thousand others, in Cesari's new book, A Brief History of Pasta, which, attentive as it is to origin stories, and thus to basics, could not make for more suitable reading right now if it tried. -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *
A glorious book, carefully and precisely skewering all of the received ideas about 'authenticity' ... It made me giggle fiendishly and occasionally punch the air -- Annie Gray, author * At Christmas We Feast *
Luca Cesari serves up a delicious combination of recipes, both ancient and modern, entertaining anecdotes, and rare insights into the diverse histories and characters of Italy's different regions. A delicious treat for anyone who wants a deeper relationship with Italy and its food -- Helena Attlee, author * The Land Where Lemons Grow: The Story of Italy and Its Citrus Fruit *
A fascinating history of one of the world's best loved foods, peppered with interesting facts like a well seasoned cacio e pepe. Through in-depth research, Cesari proves that contrary to what many purists will claim, there are no hard and fast rules when making even the best loved pasta dishes. A compelling read giving a long overdue green light to putting garlic in your Amatriciana should you so wish! -- Amber Guinness
Book Information
ISBN 9781788169394
Author Luca Cesari
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint Profile Books Ltd
Publisher Profile Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 460g
Dimensions(mm) 218mm * 140mm * 32mm
