The Babbo Cookbook - Mario Batali
Jun 9, 2009 2:18:12 GMT
Post by bixaorellana on Jun 9, 2009 2:18:12 GMT
I saw this at the library this afternoon and thought, "oh, another chef who's turned into an industry." Still, it was a cookbook. How could I not look?
Let me tell you, I was stunned! The review below and most of what I've read did not prepare me for the brilliant simplicity of the recipes. There were not zillions of ingredients and almost all of them could be purchased in any fair-sized city. And the photos! This is not chi-chi ego presentation disguised as food -- it is food, food treated to bring out its virtues without heaviness or weirdness.
I can't imagine anyone who likes to cook not enjoying this book.
The Babbo Cookbook is Mario’s biggest yet, filled with 150 recipes that have redefined contemporary Italian cooking. Here for the first time he shares such signature dishes as Mint Love Letters with Spicy Lamb Sausage and Beef Cheek Ravioli, all showcasing his unparalleled ability to reinterpret the Italian culinary tradition in a completely original way. Recipes for dozens of Babbo’s renowned antipasti, many based on fresh seasonal produce, are followed by an alluring collection of pastas; fish, fowl, and meat entrées; and a selection of Babbo’s irresistible dessert offerings. From Grilled Pork Chops with Peaches and Balsamic Vinegar to Spicy Lamb Tartare with Mint Crostini and a Quail Egg and Wild Striped Bass with Charred Leeks and Squid Vinaigrette, The Babbo Cookbook is filled with vibrant, complex flavors that belie their straightforward preparations. Even classic recipes like Bollito Misto and Pappardelle Bolognese come alive again in bright new renditions that delight the palate.
Also included are notes on the unique touches that make a meal at Babbo such a singular dining experience, from suggestions on wine service to recipes for “predesserts” that smooth the transition from savory to sweet—all representing the distinctive brand of Italian hospitality that has become the Batali trademark.
Let me tell you, I was stunned! The review below and most of what I've read did not prepare me for the brilliant simplicity of the recipes. There were not zillions of ingredients and almost all of them could be purchased in any fair-sized city. And the photos! This is not chi-chi ego presentation disguised as food -- it is food, food treated to bring out its virtues without heaviness or weirdness.
I can't imagine anyone who likes to cook not enjoying this book.
The Babbo Cookbook is Mario’s biggest yet, filled with 150 recipes that have redefined contemporary Italian cooking. Here for the first time he shares such signature dishes as Mint Love Letters with Spicy Lamb Sausage and Beef Cheek Ravioli, all showcasing his unparalleled ability to reinterpret the Italian culinary tradition in a completely original way. Recipes for dozens of Babbo’s renowned antipasti, many based on fresh seasonal produce, are followed by an alluring collection of pastas; fish, fowl, and meat entrées; and a selection of Babbo’s irresistible dessert offerings. From Grilled Pork Chops with Peaches and Balsamic Vinegar to Spicy Lamb Tartare with Mint Crostini and a Quail Egg and Wild Striped Bass with Charred Leeks and Squid Vinaigrette, The Babbo Cookbook is filled with vibrant, complex flavors that belie their straightforward preparations. Even classic recipes like Bollito Misto and Pappardelle Bolognese come alive again in bright new renditions that delight the palate.
Also included are notes on the unique touches that make a meal at Babbo such a singular dining experience, from suggestions on wine service to recipes for “predesserts” that smooth the transition from savory to sweet—all representing the distinctive brand of Italian hospitality that has become the Batali trademark.
