Food of the Italian South: Recipes for Classic, Disappearing, and Lost Dishes

Description

Culinary journalist and author of Tasting Rome, Katie Parla enchants readers with her love letter to the Italian South by pulling back the curtain and showcasing the vibrant, food-centric culture alongside deliciously modernized versions of favorite and forgotten cooking traditions that will impress your nonna. Cooking and eating are both deeply rooted in the framework of Italian society, but, like its society, the country's cuisine is wildly diverse. While all of Italy values fresh produce and bright flavors, the Italian South is best known for its rustic and romantic cuisine. After the critical success of her first book Tasting Rome, Katie Parla travels south to the warm regions of Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, and Puglia to discover her heritage through food. With 85 original and reimagined recipes that encapsulate the regionally unique dishes and staples, Food touches on what readers might expect (mozzarella, tomatoes, coffee, fish, and of course, pasta), but Parla goes beyond the recipes with stories, cultural insights, and personal discoveries that only someone as intimately familiar with Italy as she is can offer.

KATIE PARLA moved to Rome in 2003 after graduating from Yale. She holds a sommelier certificate and a master's degree in Italian gastronomic culture. She is the author of Tasting Rome, writes for the blog ParlaFood.com and the website TheRomeDigest.com, and has created three mobile dining apps. Parla has appeared on Fuck, That's Delicious and cohosted Bizarre Foods, and she often appears as a Rome expert on the History Channel and the university lecture circuit.

"Italian food expert Katie Parla tackles the culturally rich cuisine and history of the southern region-where most of the quintessentially 'Italian' foods you know and love originally hail from."-Epicurious "Parla's new book is a reflection of [her] journey to the regions of Italy often overlooked by tourists."-Edible Jersey "Parla is a journalist, but she's also a culinary sleuth, eager to learn all about food ways as well as ways to chronicle and save dishes that are quickly disappearing from modern Italian tables."-Shelf Life "Every time I think I've seen it all, Katie Parla schools me and opens up an entirely new chapter of mind-blowing simplicity that I become obsessed with. This book proves to be no different. As I delve into these salacious recipes, I can only imagine where she will take me next!"-Marc Vetri, chef-founder Vetri Cucina "What do you want? A beautifully well-documented book that feels like visiting the soul of Italy, with pictures so good you can practically taste the authentic recipes? It's right here, friends. Transport yourself."-Joe Beddia, chef-owner Pizzeria Beddia "Katie Parla is without peer when it comes to cataloguing, eating, writing, and cooking about the foods of Italy. I'm biased. She's my friend and colleague, and for years she has shown me the Italy of my dreams, in her books and just hopping in the car and taking off on the autostrada. As Katie says, 'this is a calling,' a duty for her to make sure these little culinary corners of her beloved Italy are revealed to us. But it's her passion, her gorgeously fun writing style, and these amazing recipes from the Italian South that become our gifts to receive. Intelligent and thorough, I sat salivating while paging through this book, longing to be back in the convertible, driving the Amalfi Coast in search of that next great meal. Food of the Italian South will win awards, become an instant classic, and thrill the critics, no doubt about it. The real gift is that we get to see this part of Italy through Katie's eye for detail, her luminous stories, and these amazing recipes."-Andrew Zimmern "I first met Katie Parla in Rome. I was a fan of Tasting Rome and was thrilled to be spending time with her there. It was then she told me about her upcoming book, Food of the Italian South. Katie has successfully gained my attention for her rich and transportive knowledge of not only Rome but now the southernmost parts of Italy. This book will take you to a place in Italy you may not want to leave and will open your eyes to the food and culture of the Italian South."-Melissa Rodriguez, executive chef Del Posto "Katie has unlocked the deliciousness of Italy's South. This book brings the cuisine of lesser-known regions in an incredibly diverse culinary country to your home. She provides entertaining insight to her personal heritage while honoring the area's culture and traditions. I can't wait to get in the kitchen and start cooking this book!"-Sarah Grueneberg, chef-partner Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio "Food of the Italian South is a rich, personal, and irresistible collection of undiscovered recipes and stories of regional cooking passed down from generation to generation."-Evan Funke, chef-owner Felix "Katie Parla, or how I refer to her, 'my Italian Goddess from Jersey,' has taught me so much about food, life, friendship, and the importance of Danzig over the last few years. She has single-handedly and lovingly organized all of my culinary trips to Italy and Sicily, including our last trip to Puglia, the mysterious southern heel. I have personally woven a custom Koozie for this incredible book, which I carry close to my heart as a guide for the Italian South."-Eric Wareheim