Passione Simple, seductive recipes for lovers of Italian food

*Starred Review* There are never enough cookbooks that capture the thrills of growing up with family and foods. Italian master-chef Contaldo (Panetteria: Gennaro's Italian Bakery, 2016), who famously taught Jamie Oliver to cook Italian, recounts his childhood in exquisite detail, matching his recollections (and some elegant sepia and black-and-white photographs) to the subject on point. In Pesce (fish and shellfish), it's the story of catching the biggest tuna ever: The sea was part of me and I mastered the art of reading it. The chapter Carne (meat) touches on his pet goat and the sad ending at Easter time. Tales, in fact, infuse all of Contaldo's over 100 recipes, whether in the upfront introduction or an occasional page or two aside. It is through this narrative and the dishes that his cooking style shines: fresh, laden with olive oil and herbs, simply prepared. It will be no surprise to experienced home chefs to encounter grilled polenta, steamed meatballs, fresh strawberries with strawberry sauce. Artfully arranged photographs and some well-worn and much-needed tips round out what will soon be an oft-referred-to classic.--Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2017 Booklist

Chef and TV presenter Contaldo (Gennaro's Italian Bakery), a mentor to Jamie Oliver, shares childhood memories and favorite Italian recipes in this U.S. edition of Gennaro's Passione. Chapters on soups, pastas, meat, fish, vegetables, and more are filled with pleasing food and travel photography and a wide range of rustic dishes (e.g., grilled lamb chops filled with prosciutto and herbs, hake salad with green beans and salsa verde, carpaccio of smoked mozzarella, Amalfi lemon tart). Most recipes are approachable, though a few require time and elbow grease; get ready to stir polenta for 30-40 minutes. -VERDICT This appetizing Italian cookbook will appeal to readers who enjoy leisurely, from-scratch cooking and fresh seasonal ingredients. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.