2024 the best cookbooks of 2023 review

Price: $40.00 - $17.81
(as of Dec 02, 2024 06:16:08 UTC - Details)

The Tucci Family brings wine pairings, updated recipes, gorgeous photography, and family memories to a new generation of Italian food lovers.

There is some truth to the old adage, “Most of the world eats to live, but Italians live to eat.”

What is it about a good Italian supper that feels like home, no matter where you’re from? Heaping plates of steaming pasta . . . crisp fresh vegetables...simple hearty soups...sumptuous stuffed meats...all punctuated with luscious, warm confections.

For acclaimed actor Stanley Tucci, teasing our taste buds in classic foodie films such as Big Night and Julie & Julia was a logical progression from a childhood filled with innovative homemade Italian meals: decadent Venetian Seafood Salad; rich and gratifying Lasagna Made with Polenta and Gorgonzola Cheese; spicy Spaghetti with Tomato and Tuna; delicate Pork Tenderloin with Fennel and Rosemary; fruity Roast Duck with Fresh Figs; flavorful Baked Whole Fish in an Aromatic Salt Crust; savory Eggplant and Zucchini Casserole with Potatoes; buttery Plum and Polenta Cake; and yes, of course, the legendary Timpano.

Featuring nearly 200 irresistible recipes, perfectly paired with delicious wines, The Tucci Cookbook is brimming with robust flavors, beloved Italian traditions, mouthwatering photographs, and engaging, previously untold stories from the family’s kitchen.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gallery Books (October 9, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1451661258
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1451661255
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.7 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.38 x 1.5 x 9.13 inches
Reviewer: Farfalle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A wonderful cookbook with authentic and delicious Italian food
Review: I am a big fan of Stanley Tucci and this is the first cookbook of his that I bought. I don’t usually buy books or cookbooks unless I really think they are worth owning, but this one was a treat for myself. I love his show “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy” and I wanted to try some authentic Italian dishes, so I decided to purchase this one and I love it so much. If you are a Tucci fan and/or love cooking Italian food, this is a must-have. I have tried several recipes and they were all amazing. I am now thinking of buying his other cookbooks as well.One of the things I love about this cookbook is the background story for each recipe. It tells me the history and the significance of the dish and how much it is loved by his family. I have tried the eggplant antipasto, the potato and cabbage soup, and other soup and appetizer recipes and they all turned out great. I can’t wait to try more pasta sauce, seafood and meat dishes.The recipes are simple and straightforward, with ingredients that are easy to find. Some of the main courses are more elaborate, but the instructions are clear and concise, so they should be easy to follow for anyone. Some of them also have pictures of the final plating, which is helpful to see how the dish should look like. And the bonus points for the photos of Stanley Tucci cooking. He also includes a wine pairing suggestion for each recipe, which is great for wine lovers like myself. This cookbook is not only a great source of delicious recipes, but also a glimpse into Tucci’s life and love for Italy.

Reviewer: Cole Hardy
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: FABULOUS!!
Review: I need more than 5 stars, because I absolutely LOVE this cookbook. First off, it's beautiful. It is so well written and each recipe has a short story, which makes actually reading this cookbook incredibly interesting, beyond the fantastic recipes. The book itself is great quality - honestly is beautiful. The pages are thick gloss, which would easily wipe clean. (if you're a messy cook like I am) The recipes are easy to follow, with beautiful photos and readily available ingredients. I cannot say enough great things about Stanley Tucci and this cookbook. Buy it. You will be glad you did.

Reviewer: John
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Centerpiece cookbook
Review: For a special Niece I assembled an Italian basket for her bridal shower. She was over the moon to receive this book. Her Mom and Mother-in-law already owned a copy. I knew it would be a winner. It has great photography and the recipes were clear and made me want to try to make them. The recipe titles are in Italian and English.

Reviewer: PF
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Lots of Great Recipes to Choose From
Review: I don't purchase many cookbooks anymore but occasionally one peaks my interest. I was watching Stanley Tucci cooking online and loved the simplicity and reverence in which he approached cooking so I decided to purchase his cookbook and I'm glad I did. The cookbook is approximately 350 pages of stories and recipes. The book is well laid out with chapters for soups, eggs, bread and pizza, pasta, rice/risotto, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish and desserts. He includes tips on wine pairing and variations on the recipes. I wish there were more pictures as I feel like they enhance the cooking experience. He includes some pictures but I just wish there were more. There's an excellent variety of recipes to choose from.

Reviewer: Toni
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Ben fatto!!!!!
Review: Well done, Stanley and family!This has been a most fruitful effort in this delicious compilation of recipes and dishes from the history of the Tucci family.So much has been written on this book and I agree with all the wonderful accolades given. Reaching back into the archives of the Tucci family, much love and effort has been placed into coordinating the nuances and flavors that brought about this collaborative effort of familial Italian gastronomy. Having wanted to review this book, the time was never available to really share my words. Now, with all this snow that we've been having, we were given several perfect evenings to have a "big night", and the time to share with all the fellow cooks, finally made itself available. Better late than never, I guess.That being said, I wanted to mention first and foremost about the most important recipe within this book, and that is "The Drum" (aka "Timpano", page 177) from which most people will remember its debut from the now classic cinema "The Big Night", in which Stanley Tucci and Tony Shaloub co-starred. The recipe has wonderful step-by-step directions and photography to help you feel like Primo and Secondo! We only make the recipe when we have "The Big Night" as our feature film, and it's an all-day event for us. One cannot have one without the other; a nakedness of sorts to not have the complimentary parts.Making the pasta that will envelope and caress the filling within, is a true labor of love. Flour and eggs are beautiful in and of themselves, but as partners? Wedded bliss............providing you invite salt and olive oil and water to the ceremony. Then you lay this exquisite sheet of dough into the pan and slowly add the salami, cheeses, eggs, meatballs, sauce, MORE pasta, MORE cheese, and MORE eggs! Mama mia!The aroma within your home will the first thing that people will comment on as they walk through your door. Give them a glass of wine (that is so perfectly suggested after the recipe portion, along with contact information to the winery, no less!), and just savor the wait and the anticipation. Plus, regardless of how many times you will make this, the "unveiling" is such a big deal, that you will enjoy it every time.It's mountain high in size and so good!!! So very, very good!!! A really hot loaf of fresh bread, some butter to melt all over it, your wine, and you are on a journey of perfection, my friends!OK, OK.................yes, there is more to the book. Obviously.I enjoy history and photography so the two of these are given in ample form at the start of the book as the Tucci history share the culinary wealth. Mario Batali gave a lovely Foreward so it made things just that much better to have someone such as himself, send you on your way.There are 11 food chapters, but there is a wonderful wine mini-chapter that gives you a little insight as to how to pair your dishes with the beloved grape. The recipes have a little introduction before giving the recipe, steps, and wine pairing suggestions. There are some photographs of the dishes but not of all of them. Also, this is not a teaching cookbook; it's assumed that you have a somewhat solid skill set in the kitchen, and aside from "The Drum/Timpano" section, that is all you will see for step-by-step tutorials. But, come on, you can do this, right?Appetizers and Salads:Grilled Mozzarella Cheese, Antipasto, Vinaigrettes, Roasted Peppers, etcSoups:As Stan says, soup is cheap and easy to make so where to start? How about Chicken Soup with Chicken Meatballs? Italian Bread Dumpling Soup, and the all-time, everything but the kitchen sink, Peasant Soup! Boy, does this ever make a fanastic winter meal all by itself (with a little help from some bread).Eggs:Eggs with Tomatoes, Egg Tart, Eggs with Salads, etc. But as Stan states, they weren't much of a "scrambled eggs for breakfast crowd" so these are different takes on the oval gift from chickens.Bread and Pizza:Fried dough, banana bread, pizza's.Pasta:Cold Pasta (summer pasta), Hot Pasta, THE DRUM, Cannelloni, Fettucine, Tomato Sauces, etcRice and Risotto:(these are kind of the same thing but vary in preparation) Rice by itself, with veggies, with fish, etc.Veggies and Side Dishes:The Puree of White Beans with Rosemary and Garlic is dee-vine! Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary? Beyond fantastic. There is an Eggplant and Zucchini Casserole with Potatoes that I'm planning on that sounds great as I'm not one for eggplant but the ingredients sound interesting.Poultry:Obviously, there are tons of chicken dishes here but the "Chicken on a Brick with Lemon and Rosemary" is great. I purchased some bricks from our local Lowes, which are the flat and square ones as opposed to the rectangular ones, because they have a great surface area. I scrubbed them by hand then threw the bricks into the dishwasher; I still wrap aluminum foil around them before I use them. There is also a duck recipe for those who enjoy that type of game.Fish and Shellfish:Bluefish, Swordfish, Clams, Salmon, Tuna and other creatures of the sea are in this chapter. Not being a big fish person, I haven't tried any of these but there are plenty to choose from.Desserts:Oh my word................desserts! Cookies, Cannoli's, Fried Dough, Cakes, Tiramisu, etc round out the end of your meal. But these are all light desserts, very unlike the American meal finales, but you will find them a pleasant and light/airy way of ending your meal.This was a thoroughly enjoyable Italian cookbook with little twists and fancies that will make your meal memorable. Ciao!

Reviewer: XO
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Love this book!
Review: I liked this book so much I ordered two more as gifts. Recipients loved it. Well written, easy recipes. Tucci is wonderful!

Reviewer: margaretherne
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Love Stanley Tucci
Review: Bought to give in a Xmas cookbook exchange

Reviewer: Winerover
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: gift for the cook
Review: the cook likes its

Reviewer: Kate from Canada
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Anything that gorgeous man does, always deserves full marks from me!!

Reviewer: Alison Druce
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I like Stanley Tucci and this book is great for good Italian meals. Compliments his other books I have of his.

Reviewer: Michael
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: great recipies

Reviewer: Klaus Tränkle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: sehr leckere Rezepte

Reviewer: Gitte Vogelbein
Rating: 2.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: decue, car pas beaucoup de photos à mon gout