May 2023 MBR The Cookbook Shelf

The Cookbook Shelf

The Low Carb Italian Kitchen
Giancarlo & Katie Caldesi, authors
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
http://www.kylebooks.com
9781914239588, $24.99, HC, 208pp

https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Italian-Carb-Weight-Loss-Cookbook/dp/191423958X

Synopsis: If there's one diet that is widely acclaimed for its health benefits, it's the Mediterranean diet. It is lauded by health experts for its positive impact on weight loss, heart and brain health, cancer prevention and diabetes prevention and control. The diet is not just nutritious, but tasty too. In particular, the simplicity, exemplary ingredients and all-round deliciousness of Italian cuisine means that it is internationally adored.

But surely Italian food, with its pasta, pizzas and oil-soaked breads, is as far from being low calorie and low carb as you can get? Not in the hands of of Italian food and low-carb specialists Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi!

With a combined ninety-three years of cooking experience and several bestsellers between them, Katie and Giancarlo have become leading advocates for the health benefits of a low-carb diet. With the publication of "The Low Carb Italian Kitchen", they show you how, in more than eighty fabulous Italian recipes combining healthy ingredients with a little kitchen know-how, you can still eat some of the tastiest food on the planet while shedding weight and achieving a healthier, happier and more energized you.

Of special note is expert nutritionist Jenny Phillips introducing "The Low Carb Italian Kitchen", defining the Mediterranean diet and relating it to the Caldesi's tried-and-tested approach. Using the recipes that follow and the Caldesi's bespoke CarbScale, anyone can enjoy delicious low-carb Italian food, from sugar-free dolci and low-carb pizza to portion-controlled pasta with abundant vegetables and delicious sauces.

Critique: Showcasing some 100 palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, weight control friendly recipes, "The Low Carb Italian Kitchen" is packed with full color photos of finished dishes and is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted for the planning of memorable menus that "The Low Carb Italian Kitchen" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi (www.caldesi.com) are the owners of London's Caldesi in Marylebone as well as Caldesi in Campagna in Bray. They have co-authored the bestselling The Diabetes Weight-Loss Cookbook, The Reverse Your Diabetes Cookbook, Around The World in Salads and The Gentle Art of Preserving and have both appeared on Saturday Kitchen. The can be followed on @KatieCaldesi and @MrCaldesi

The Eternal City: Recipes and Stories from Rome
Maria Pasquale
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
300 Park Avenue South, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10010
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781922754271, $35.00, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Eternal-City-Recipes-stories-Rome/dp/1922754277

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Eternal City: Recipes and Stories from Rome" by Maria Pasquale, armchair travelers and on-site visitors, kitchen cooks and dedicated foodies can discover Rome's incredible food and culinary history through the city's stories and its cuisine.

The Eternal City is a maze of winding cobblestone streets, where ancient history waits at every turn. Within these storied laneways, Rome's culinary traditions are honored and transformed by local chefs, pizza makers, cheesemongers, butchers, wine experts, bakers, and more -- all of whom make Rome one of the great food capitals of the world.

Learning of the places where Romans eat every day, ranging from the trattoria to the home kitchen, and through the dishes that define these locations. With 70 recipes shared by iconic eateries, chefs, and culinary author Maria Pasquale's family and friends, "The Eternal City: Recipes and Stories from Rome" is a culinary love letter to Rome that takes you past the monuments, and into the lives of modern-day Romans. This is an invitation to their tables and to embrace la dolce vita!

Critique: Beautifully illustrated in full color throughout, "The Eternal City: Recipes and Stories from Rome" will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in Italian cooking, gastronomic essays, and culinary oriented travel guides. "The Eternal City: Recipes and Stories from Rome" is highly recommended and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Editorial Note: Maria Pasquale (https://maria-pasquale.com) was born in Melbourne, Australia, to Italian parents and has been based in Rome since 2011. With formal qualifications in political science and history, she is an award-winning food and travel journalist and writes regularly for USA Today, CNN, Conde Nast, The Telegraph, and Fortune. She is founder of the popular blog HeartRome, which has readers in 100 countries, and in 2017, she published I Heart Rome with Smith Street Books. Her second book, How to Be Italian, was released in 2021.

Bold Beans: Recipes To Get Your Pulse Racing
Amelia Christie-Miller
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
http://www.kylebooks.com
9781804190821, $26.99, HC, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bold-Beans-recipes-pulse-racing/dp/1804190829

Synopsis: For too long in the United Kingdom beans were thought of as dreary hippy fodder, but lately they have undergone a radical image makeover. At long last they are being recognized for their brilliant versatility as well as for being truly delicious and nutritious -- something that has been known in Europe and the Americas for years. One of the healthiest and most sustainable of foods, they help with meat reduction by providing a cheap source of plant protein and at the same time aid soil health, one of the most pressing issues in farming today.

"Bold Beans: Recipes To Get Your Pulse Racing" showcases 80 specialized recipes divided into the following chapters: Beans on Toast; Bean Snacks and Share Plates; Hearty Salads; Bean Bowls; Soup Beans; and Bean Feasts.

The majority of these recipes are written by the Bold Bean team, but in keeping with their community-driven growth they also include some 20+ recipes from guest writers, the influencers who've been their greatest supporters so far -- including Ben Lebus of MOB and Melissa Hemsley. Appealing to vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians, they are recipes offering guaranteed heartiness, protein and satisfaction -- with reduced carbs too.

Critique: Enhanced for the family cook with full color, full page photographs of finished dishes, "Bold Beans: Recipes To Get Your Pulse Racing" is a delight to simply browse through and inspiring to plan menus with. With its thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes that would grace any and all dining occasions, and also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99), "Bold Beans: Recipes To Get Your Pulse Racing" is an original and highly recommended addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Editorial Note: Established a year ago, Bold Bean Co was set up by Amelia Christie-Miller who, following a bean epiphany in Spain, decided that the UK both needed and deserved to have a better understanding of beans and how brilliant they can be. Now listed in Selfridges, Waitrose and Planet Organic (as well as numerous independent shops and online outlets), Bold Beans are taking the food world by storm. (https://boldbeanco.com/pages/about-us)

True North Cabin Cookbook
Stephanie Hansen
Minnesota Historical Society Press
345 Kellogg Boulevard, West, St. Paul, MN 55102-1906
www.mnhs.org/mhspress
9781681342351, $29.95, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/True-North-Cabin-Cookbook-Recipes/dp/1681342359

Synopsis: Rural cabins provide an ideal getaway from the demands of everyday life, with adventuresome days of hiking or boating or lounging fueled by hearty, home-cooked meals. The rhythms of cabin life are familiar to food writer and blogger Stephanie Hansen, who relishes the opportunity to create memorable and delicious meals for friends and loved ones using simple ingredients from pantry and garden.

From her family cabin on picturesque True North Island near Ely, Minnesota, and with the publication of "True North Cabin Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from a North Woods Table", Hansen shares favorite recipes for the summer months.

In May, she presents cozy dishes like Beef Bourguignon and Drunken Cowboy Beans followed by a sweet and tart Rhubarb Skillet Cake, while June might call for Molasses Pork Chops accompanied by Roasted Carrots with Scallion-Ginger Sauce. For the lazy summer days of July and August, the classic Fried Walleye with Lemony Tartar Sauce might hit the spot, and a Grilled Ratatouille with Herb Vinaigrette takes advantage of fresh seasonal vegetables. As autumn starts to creep in, Grilled Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki Feta Sauce and Warm Bacon Potato Salad keep the summer vibe going.

Throughout the months, Hansen shares recipes for desserts both simple and adventurous - from a No-Bake Layered Lemon Loaf with Blueberries to Molten Chocolate Cakes -- and refreshing cocktails to meet your every mood.

Hansen's creative dishes will nourish and delight those who gather at your table whether at the cabin or at home. "True North Cabin Cookbook" offers ample opportunity to savor north woods living and cuisine at its very best.

Critique: Beautifully and profusely enhanced with full color photography throughout, "True North Cabin Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from a North Woods Table" is a delight to simply browse through and exciting to plan out menus with. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, "True North Cabin Cookbook" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Editorial Note: Stephanie Hansen (https://www.stephaniesdish.com) is a Minnesota food writer and blogger. From chatting about local dining on FM 107.1's Weekly Dish to sharing recipes on The Jason Show to highlighting local entrepreneurs and craftspeople through the Makers of Minnesota podcast.

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