Not so long ago, Italian food was regarded as a poor man's
gruel--little more than pizza, macaroni with sauce, and red wines in a
box. Here, John Mariani shows how the Italian immigrants to America
created, through perseverance and sheer necessity, an Italian-American
food culture, and how it became a global obsession. The book begins with
the Greek, Roman, and Middle Eastern culinary traditions before the
boot-shaped peninsula was even called "Italy," then takes readers on a
journey through Europe and across the ocean to America alongside the
poor but hopeful Italian immigrants who slowly but surely won over the
hearts and minds of Americans by way of their stomachs. Featuring evil
villains such as the Atkins diet and French chefs, this is a rollicking
tale of how Italian cuisine rose to its place as the most beloved fare
in the world, through the lives of the people who led the charge.
With savory anecdotes from these top chefs and restaurateurs:
- Mario Batali
- Danny Meyer
- Tony Mantuano
- Michael Chiarello
- Giada de Laurentiis
- Giuseppe Cipriani
- Nigella Lawson
And the trials and triumphs of these restaurants:
- Da Silvano
- Spiaggia
- Bottega
- Union Square Cafe
- Maialino
- Rao's
- Babbo
- Il Cantinori (
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