Biba's Taste of Italy

Biba's Taste of Italy
Recipes from the Home, Trattorie,
and Restaurants of Emilia-Romagna

By Biba Caggiano

Biba's Taste of Italy
"There has not been one single day since I have left Bologna in 1960 that I have not yearned for and lusted after the food of Emilia-Romagna. That food is part of my heritage and culture. After twenty-five years of cooking professionally, I can truly say that the food of my region has been a constant source of inspiration in all I have done."

Join author, cooking show host, and restaurateur Biba Caggiano on her journey back to her beloved region in Biba's Taste of Italy. Located in one of Italy's most prosperous northern regions, Emilia-Romagna has given the world a cuisine that is a luscious as it is refined: succulent seafood dishes from the Adriatic waters; hearty, long-simmered ragùs; and rich pasta shaped into tortellini, anolini, and lasagna. with Biba, dicover the place that's home to so much of what we've come to love in Italian food: prosciutto di Parma, Modena's aged balsamic vinegar, mortadella, and perhaps the world's greatest cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Featuring more than 250 recipes, from antipasti to desserts, Biba introduces the vibrant food of her childhood: homestyle dishes and authentic recipes from humble trattorie and family-run restaurants. You'll learn how to make Tagliatelle with Bolognese Ragù Eggplant Parmigiano that combines the salty-sweet flavors of Parma ham and Bolognese sausage; earthy, bread-thickened soups; Potato and Ricotta Gnocchi; and irresistible seafood risotto. of course, the symbol Emilia-Romagna cooking—stuffed pasta—is here in all its glory with recipes for Ricotta and Goat Cheese Tortellini, Butternut Squash Tortellini, and Anolini in Broth, and so many more.

From the region's coastal towns and villages, Biba shares the simply prepared seafood dishes of the local trattoric—Clams with Garlic and Chile Pepper and Baked Halibut with Potatoes, plus the simple tastes of grilling shellfish with olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs. In the same rustic spirit, you will also find Roasted Stuffed Breast of Veal, Braised Veal Shanks, and succulent Breaded Lamb Chops.

Biba's frequent family visits to Bologna evoke childhood memories of growing up in this food-lover's paradise, and reaffirms that the kitchen remains the heart and soul of Italian homes.

Biba's Taste of Italy is more than a collection of recipes. It is also a travel guide with all the names and addresses of her favorite trattorie and restaurants where her favorite dishes can be found.

Join Biba as she returns to Emilia-Romagna in Biba's Taste of Italy. It's a trip you will take again and again in your own kitchen.

"There is no one who can capture the food and soul of Emilia-Romagna like my dear friend, Biba Caggiano. Some of Italy's best fresh pasta hails from this region and Biba shares these and other wonderful recipes in her new cookbook, Biba's Taste of Italy. If you love Italy and Italian food, this is a must-have cookbook."— Lidia Bastianich, author of Lidia's Italian Table

"Reading Biba's Taste of Italy made me want to jump on a motorbike and explore Emilia-Romagna with Biba. Everything sounds so appealing. I want to follow her everywhere and shop in the markets, meet the cooks, and taste the food."—Michele Scicolone, author of A Fresh Taste of Italy

"The region, Emilia-Romagna, is blessed with such delectables as prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar. Those who can never own too many Italian cookbooks will welcome the familiar fare. These authentic recipes demonstrate why Italian food remains one of the world's most irresistible cuisines."—Publisher's Weekly

Buy the Book!

Biba's Taste of Italy
By Biba Caggiano
Morrow Cookbooks/An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
William Morrow, March 2001
Hardcover, $38.00, 416 pages
ISBN: 0-688-15815-3
Information provided by the publisher.