Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy: A Feast of 175 Regional Recipes

In this inspiring new book, Lidia Bastianich awakens in us a new respect for food and for the people who produce it in the little-known parts of Italy that she explores. All of the recipes reflect the regions fromwhich they spring, and in translating them to our home kitchens, Lidia passes on time-honored techniques and wonderful, uncomplicated recipes for dishes bursting with different regional flavors-the kind ofelemental, good family cooking that is particularly appreciated today.

Penetrating the heart of Italy-starting at the north, working down to the tip, and ending in Sardinia--Lidiaunearths a wealth of recipes:

From Trentino-Alto Adige: Delicious Dumplings with Speck (cured pork); apples accenting soup, pasta, salsa, and salad; local beer used to roasta chicken and to braise beef

From Lombardy: A world of rice-baked in a frittata, with lentils, with butternut squash, with gorgonzola, and the special treat of Risotto Milan-Style withMarrow and Saffron

From Valle d'Aosta: Polenta with Black Beans and Kale, and local fontina featured in fondue, in a roasted pepper salad, and embedded in veal chops

FromLiguria: An array of Stuffed Vegetables, a bread salad, and elegant Veal Stuffed with a Mosaic of Vegetables

From Emilia-Romagna: An olive oil dough for making thetraditional, versatile vegetable tart "erbazzone, " as well as the secrets of making "tagliatelle" and other pasta doughs, and an irresistible Veal Scaloppine Bolognese

FromLe Marche: Farro with Roasted Pepper Sauce, Lamb Chunks with Olives, and Stuffed Quail in Parchment

From Umbria: A taste of the sweet Norcino black truffle, and seductivedishes such as Potato-Mushroom Cake with Braised Lentils, Sausages in the Skillet with Grapes, and Chocolate Bread Parfait

From Abruzzo: Fresh "scrippelle" (crepe)ribbons baked with spinach or garnishing a soup, fresh pasta made with a "guitar," Rabbit with Onions, and Lamb Chops with Olives

From Molise: Fried Ricotta; homemadecavatelli pasta in a variety of ways; Spaghetti with Calamari, Shrimp, and Scallops; and Braised Octopus

From Basilicata: Wedding Soup, Fiery "Maccheroni, " and Farro with PorkRaguugrave;

From Calabria: Shepherd's Rigatoni, steamed swordfish, and Almond Biscottini

From Sardinia: Flatbread Lasagna, two lovely eggplant dishes, andRoast Lobster with Bread Crumb Topping

This is just a sampling of the many delights Lidia has uncovered. All the recipes she shares with us in this rich feast of a book represent the work of the localpeople and friends with whom she made intimate contact-the farmers, shepherds, foragers, and artisans who produce local cheeses, meats, olive oils, and wines. And in addition, her daughter, Tanya, takes us onside trips in each of the twelve regions to share her love of the country and its art.

"From the Hardcover edition."

Lidia Matticchio Bastianich is the author of five previous books, four of them accompanied by nationally syndicated public television series. She is the owner of the New York City restaurant Felidia (among others), and she lectures on and demonstrates Italian cooking throughout the country. She lives on Long Island, and can be reached at her Web site, www.lidiasitaly.com.

Tanya Bastianich Manuali, Lidia’s daughter, received her Ph.D. in Italian Renaissance art history from Oxford University. Since 1996 she has led food/wine/art tours of Italy. She lives with her husband and children on Long Island.

From the Hardcover edition.