Old World Italian: Recipes and Secrets from Our Travels in Italy: A Cookbook

This new cookbook by Mimi Thorisson is simply wonderful. The exceptionally beautiful photographs, shot by the author's husband, Oddur Thorisson, are a perfect visual counterpoint to the lovely collection of recipes. This is one of those cookbooks that is as much a pleasure to read as it is to cook from. (scroll down to see the recipes I've so far tried) I have shelves full of Italian cookbooks, many of which also highlight the regions of Italy and recipes from those areas. But Ms. Thorisson's book, in particular, makes me feel as though I am holding a piece of Italy in my hands every time I open it. Readers who feel that Italy exerts a unique and inexplicable pull on them will especially appreciate Ms. Thorisson's lack of pretense when she describes how repeated trips with her family concluded in the decision to move there. The diverse and fiercely traditional regions of Italy can make it a difficult country to figure out. One of the best ways to do that is in the kitchens - whether with home cooks or restaurant chefs - and anyone who reads this book will be the beneficiary of the Thorissons deep curiosity and quest to discover the soul of each region through its food and drink. The book opens with the author's brief but beautiful description of life in Torino. Shortly after that comes her husband's delightful and informative chapter on Italian coffee culture, which was preceded by recipes for Bicerin and Shakerato, two of Torino's specialty coffee concoctions that easily make a trip to Torino worth it to have those alone. At that point, I was pretty well on the hook for this book, but it just kept getting better. As for the recipes - I have made many of Mimi Thorisson's French recipes from her blog, Manger, and two books featuring French food. But as good as those recipes were, I believe she has found her true groove in Italian food. There are so many wonderful recipes in this book that it's hard to know where to start. They are beautifully authentic - or are inspired by authentic techniques and ingredients - and thus run the gamut between simple and lengthy, so I decided to start with simple to see how flavorful simple could be. Recipes tried so far: - Tagliata with Radicchio. Maybe too simple I thought. Until my husband said "This is unbelievable." I could not find radicchio, so I substituted a close relative, Belgian endive. Absolutely delicious. (photo) - Scaloppine alla Perugina. I did not use the chicken livers because I could not find that small of an amount available, but the final result was nonetheless delicious. I imagine the chicken liver would have added subtle additional complexity and will try this again with, just out of curiosity. - Sage and Walnut Tagliatelle has an earthy unctuousness that we loved. - Tuna Salad with Green Beans and Mint is a delicious tuna salad with a super-simple vinaigrette. I used leftover roasted green beans because I had them and it turned out great. I would not make this with anything but tuna imported from Italy, which can be found in most grocery stores if you look. After trying those, putting the time into making the more involved recipes seems like a no-brainer at this point. This is a true winner of a cookbook, for cooks and for cookbook readers. It quickly became a personal classic.

Beautiful photography & recipes. Mom will love it!

Very comprehensive book. Great and tasty recipes. The book cover itself is worth the price. The photos of the plates are well thought of. Makes me want to cook

The ingredients are staples and easy finds. The recipes are simple to follow. We have made some amazing dishes that feel authentic- something Nona would have made when we were kids. The personal narratives provided by the author and the beautiful photos that accompany are bonus.

The presentation and photography in this book is wonderful and so far the recipes are delicious. There are some back stories throughout the book which are very engaging. I can't wait to make all of the recipes which are easy to follow. The book is divided by courses and so this one book can be used for an entire dinner party including cocktails and desserts.

Aesthetically this is a lovely book. Great for the average home cook, not too advanced. For those looking for something a bit more advanced with lots of different flavor profiles, Don Angie Italian American is the way to go.

Bought this for my daughter in law for Christmas. She loves it

Beautiful cookbook and great recipes. Seems very authentic. I highly recommend. Would be a great gift as well.