2019 brought an abundance of newly published cookbooks, but finding the perfect one for your favorite foodie this holiday season may prove overwhelming. For shopping clarity and curation, we visited one of the foremost independent booksellers, Rizzoli Bookstore—a literary landmark in Manhattan’s NoMad district, and a renowned destination to prominent authors and book lovers from around the world for over 50 years.
Any one of these carefully chosen Italian-themed standouts will not disappoint.
American Sfoglino - A Masterclass in Handmade Pasta
By: Evan Funke with Katie Parla
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Price: $35
James Beard-nominated Evan Funke, chef of LA’s celebrated restaurant Felix Trattoria, shares his wild passion for home-made pasta in this easy-to-follow, beautifully photographed instructional guide. Learn how to create four different doughs and 15 classic pasta shapes including pappardelle and tagliatelle simply using flour, eggs, a rolling pin and little else. Recipes for sauces and broths complete the perfect dish, along with personal tales from Italy and the Felix kitchen, rendering a full culinary experience.
Felidia - Recipes from My Flagship Restaurant
By: Lidia Matticchio Bastianich
Publisher: Knopf
Price: $35
Celebrity chef and award-winning cookbook author Lidia Bastianich invites you to recreate an at-home menu from her acclaimed New York City restaurant Felidia. Credited with introducing red sauce New Yorkers to regional Northeastern Italian cuisine, Lidia, together with her longtime executive chef, shares 115 recipes served at her flagship townhouse for nearly four decades. Signature cocktails like the Frozen Peach Bellini, pastas and primi including Pear and Pecorino Ravioli, Chicken Pizzaiola and Warm Nutella Flan are revealed step-by-step for the first time.
How We Fell in Love with Italian Food
By: Diego Zancani
Publisher: Bodleian Library Publishing
Price: $40
*available December 8th
Ever wonder why Italian food became a worldwide favorite? Using medieval transcripts and travel diaries, Zancani explores this answer and more, beginning with the Roman invasion of Britain two thousand years ago. He also delves into transatlantic encounters with Italian food----50 years after Gennaro Lombardi, in 1905, debuted the first pizzeria in New York City, pizza was recognized as an all-American staple. With recipes for classic Italian dishes such as Gnudi, this book appeals to all cooks, food historians and anyone who loves eating a bowl of pasta.
The Italian Table - Creating festive meals for family and friends
By: Elizabeth Minchilli
Publisher: Rizzoli
Price: $40
In Italy, food is synonymous with entertainment and a routine meal is reason enough to celebrate. In her ninth book, Elizabeth Minchilli offers menus and recipes, personal stories and practical hosting advice, like how to time the preparation and the party itself, inviting the Italian mindset into your home. Visually enticing, this essential resource captures the joys of experiencing shared meals through the author’s lens focused on her real life Italian table.
La Cucina: The Regional Cooking of Italy
By: The Italian Academy of Cuisine
Publisher: Rizzoli
Price: $45
A decade after its English language debut, this complete and comprehensive guide of more than 2,000 recipes remains the “Bible” of Italian cookbooks. Formed in 1953, The Italian Academy of Cuisine collected recipes from home cooks throughout every region in Italy and uncovered microregional nuances of the same dish---- there are multiple dozens of recipes just for anchovies. An essential tool for anyone who loves to cook.