Cookbook: Venezia—Food and Dreams

the appetizer:

Venezia: Food and Dreams by Tessa Kiros, includes recipes like Spider Crab (Granseola in Bella Vista); Fried Mozzarella Toasts (Mozzarella in Carrozza); and Roasted Guinea Fowl with Peverada (Faraona Arrosto con la Salsa Peverada).

Venezia: Food and Dreams

by Tessa Kiros

Click to buy Venezia

Venice is a city of charming people, winding canals, and floating markets, whose rich culinary history wafts from the tables of its sidewalk cafés and candlelit restaurants. In her evocative and beautiful cookbook, Venezia: Food & Dreams, Tessa Kiros takes her readers through these magical passageways, and with her they plumb the city's nooks and crannies, discovering a myriad of Venetian staples and specialties to whet the appetite.

Venezia is not your standard cookbook. The stunning photographs are as dynamic as the recipes, ranging from vibrant, bejeweled Carnival masks to dramatic black and white views of Venetian streets. The pages are also sprinkled with Tessa's travel insights and poetic observations:

"Venice in its labyrinth and enigma; everywhere visible from the windows and mirrors on the top floor of Harry's Bar...the backdrop of the terrace looked like they had been told to recite and play and then the director had forgotten to call stop. Bridges; keyholes peeping into ancient courtyards full of secrets."

During her travels, Tessa charms the locals into divulging their culinary secrets, sharing with the reader the hidden specialties of this romantic yet mysterious city. She divides these dishes by course—Antipasti, Zuppa/Pasta/Gnocchi, Risotto, Secondi, Contori, and Dolci—with additional sections on Essential Recipes and Cicchetti (delicious small bites unique to Venice). Recipes range from the exotic such as Spaghetti al Nero de Seppie (Spaghetti with Squid Ink) to more traditional selections such as Grigliata Mista de Pesce (Mixed Grilled Fish).

Tessa's recipes are unique enough to intrigue experienced chefs yet easy enough for beginners to follow, creating a guide for tasty dishes that will impress any dinner guest. With a turn of the page, everyone can share in Tessa's sheer love of anything beautiful, anything flavorful, and everything Venetian.

About the Author

Tessa Kiros was born in London to a Finnish mother and a Greek-Cypriot father. She grew up in South Africa and has since traveled the world learning about diverse cultures and tastes. She has worked in restaurants in Sydney, Australia, Greece, Mexico, and London's famous Groucho Club. Tessa is the author of Apples for Jam: A Colorful Cookbook and Falling Cloudberries: A World of Family Recipes. She lives in Tuscany with her husband and two daughters.

Venezia: Food and Dreams
by Tessa Kiros
Photography by Manos Chatzikonstantis
Andrews McMeel 2009
Hardcover; $34.99
ISBN-10: 0740785168
ISBN-13: 9780740785160
Information provided by the publisher.

Buy Venezia

Venezia

Recipes
- Spider Crab (Granseola in Bella Vista)
- Fried Mozzarella Toasts (Mozzarella in Carrozza)
- Roasted Guinea Fowl with Peverada
  (Faraona Arrosto con la Salsa Peverada)