A Table in Venice: Recipes from My Home

It seems everyone loves Italian food, but many don’t realize how very regional Italian dishes are. Author Skye McAlpine (not a quintessentially Italian name) moved to Venice as a small child and spent most of her life there. This book is something of an homage to Venice and the great food that is found in the homes there for everyday meals. She begins with a very detailed shopping guide for setting up a proper pantry to support Venetian cooking. She then arranges her recipes in sections for breakfast, vegetable recipes (check out the Ricotta and Mint-Stuffed Zucchini Flowers), lunch, aperitif time (don’t miss the Deep-Fried Risotto and Mozzarella Balls), fish and game (the Langoustine and Fig Salad is terrific), and desserts and sweet treats. Each recipe includes a short write-up that tells a little story about the dish and what might be good companion foods for it. But even if one weren’t interested in cooking or didn’t know how to read, this book is so full of gorgeous photographs that it is worth the price just for that. The writing is as crisp as fresh asparagus and adds to the pleasure of spending time in the kitchen.