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COOKERY -1-
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Under the Tuscan Sun - Frances Mayes
At Home in Italy Large format paperback in excellent condition. Some light tanning of page edges. Published by Broadway Books (1997). 280pp. M1. NZD: 5.50 / P&P: B Frances Mayes—widely published poet, gourmet cook, and travel writer—opens the door to a wondrous new world when she buys and restores an abandoned villa in the spectacular Tuscan countryside. In evocative language, she brings the reader along as she discovers the beauty and simplicity of life in Italy. Mayes also creates dozens of delicious seasonal recipes from her traditional kitchen and simple garden, all of which she includes in the book. Doing for Tuscany what M.F.K. Fisher and Peter Mayle did for Provence, Mayes writes about the tastes and pleasures of a foreign country with gusto and passion. Mayes' book is more than a merely picturesque recounting of her experiences, her story has many layers that together recall that sense of nostalgia that can only be found in the true sweetness of memory. The smells and sounds that create that subtle ache for the events and experiences that in remembering achieve their deepest meaning. 
Dear Francesca - Mary Contini
An Italian Journey of Recipes Recounted with Love Paperback in excellent condition. Neatly inscribed as a gift on the front end paper. Published by Ebury Press (2003). 400pp. NZD: 6.00 / P&P: A Part cookery, part storytelling - and wholly beguiling... A deeply personal and moving family memoir crossed with a cookbook, "Dear Francesca" is a loving tribute to a family's passion for food, love and life passed down from a mother to her daughter to be shared with future generations - and all lovers of good food and good company. Written by leading cookery author Mary Contini, this delightful narrative is in the bestselling tradition of Anthony Bourdain and Annie Hawes. It tells the tale of the Di Ciacca family, tracing their journey from the barren Abruzzi mountains to the chilly streets of post-war Edinburgh. Addressing her daughter Francesca as she embarks on independent life, this is a compelling, often moving, family history in which Contini describes her ancestors' loves and lives in their adopted homeland where traditions were kept alive around the dinner table. With characters as colourful as in any novel, this is a book that will appeal to anyone who loves Italian food and wishes to share in a sense of family. It adds up to one of the most original books for food lovers in recent years, blending great narrative with heart warming recipes and recollections. Based in Edinburgh, Mary Contini is a partner in the famous Italian delicatessen Valvona and Crolla. She also writes a column for The Scotsman and has presented Scotland's Larder on television. 
Sarah Brown's Vegetarian Cookbook
Hardback in excellent condition, pictorial laminated boards, with d/w also in excellent condition. Numerous colour photos throughout. Published by Dorling Kindersley (1988). 240pp inc. index. NZD: 8.00 / P&P: C Sarah Brown's Vegetarian Cookbook offers a revelatory approach to vegetarian cooking which will appeal to non-vegetarians and vegetarians alike. Full of imaginative and delicious recipes, it destroys the myth that vegetarian food is bland, heavy and boring and proves that vegetarian meals can be just as appetising and varied as meat-based ones. With its emphasis on fresh foods and high fibre, low fat dishes, Sarah Brown's Vegetarian Cookbook is very much in tune with current eating habits and the growing awareness of the link between diet and health. It provides a rich fund of suggestions for non-vegetarians who'd like an occasional change from meat. For the committed vegetarian, it will be a constant source of new ideas and inspiration. Drawing on a wide range of ingredients and cuisines, Sarah Brown's Vegetarian Cookbook contains nearly 200 recipes, all illustrated in full colour, with techniques clearly shown in easy-to-follow step-by-step photographs. There are ideas for entertaining and for special occasions such as Christmas and children's parties as well as for everyday eating. The book also includes a menu planner and an illustrated guide to ingredients, with notes on preparation and cooking techniques as well as nutrients. Handsomely produced and attractively illustrated, Sarah Brown's Vegetarian Cookbook shows that vegetarian food is a healthy and delicious way of eating for everyone. |