Tuscan Cookbook Book

Central to the Tuscan culinary traditions are olive oil, bread, tomatoes and wine, and grilling over fire. This book captures the food, culture, countryside and people of Tuscany. Six years ago Stephanie Alexander and Maggie Beer went to Italy to...

When Australian chefs Stephanie Alexander and Maggie Beer arrived in Tuscany to run a cooking school, they had no idea how much fun they were going to have. Their Tuscan Cookbook is the result of those magical two months. Meals revolved around basic ingredients: bread, tomatoes, olive oil, and wine. The first lesson was: "The fruit and vegetables were so fresh that they had to be used immediately: when one is surrounded by produce picked when ready to eat this is exactly what one must do!" Students and teachers alike learned to produce sumptuous meals based on what the market had that morning. One day it might be Grilled Squab with a Gratin of Squash or perhaps Herbed Pasta with Fresh Tomato and Red Onion Sauce. Another day is might be Rotolo di Spinaci preceded by an antipasto with mozzarella-stuffed zucchini flowers and marinated mussels. The accompanying photos of the dishes and Tuscan life are as tantalizing as the recipes. --Dana Van Nest