Books for the Holidays

I decided that this year I was going to my holiday shopping early. And by early I mean now. Because let’s face it, I do have time on my hands. Also? Rather than squirrel away gifts, or schedule them for delivery closer to the holidays I’ve decided to hell with that. I’m also sending my gifts now! Because if my friends and family are like me, then a little unexpected early gift may be just the thing they need. Right?

So if you’re thinking the same thing, might I humbly suggest a copy of one of my books? In these days when travel is off the table, what better way to bring a bit of Italy into your home than by literally putting it on the table?

 

The Italian Table: Creating Festive Meals for Family and Friends (Rizzoli 2019)

My most recent book was published last year. The Italian Table delivers both the fantasy and the reality of Italian meals as they would be eaten on location. Combining menus and recipes with visual experience and inspiration–as well as insight into the traditions of the food and celebrations–it serves as a practical resource that gives home cooks and hosts step-by-step guidance on how to re-create these fabulous meals at their own tables.

“I want to cook every one of Elizabeth’s recipes and, even more, I want to move to Rome and spend my afternoons listening to her stories over Campari spritzes! This book is filled with delicious recipes plus brilliant ideas for menus, table settings, and wine pairing to create the perfect Italian table, no matter where you live. What a beautiful, romantic and incredibly useful book!” – Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa cookbooks and TV

 

Eating My Way Through Italy: Heading Off the Main Roads to Discover the Hidden Treasures of the Italian Table (St. Martins 2018)

Divided geographically, Eating My Way Through Italy looks at all the different aspects of Italian food culture. Whether it’s pizza in Naples, deep fried calamari in Venice, anchovies in Amalfi, an elegant dinner in Milan, gathering and cooking capers on Pantelleria, or hunting for truffles in Umbria each chapter includes, not just anecdotes, personal stories and practical advice, but also recipes that explore the cultural and historical references that make these subjects timeless

“Discovering Italy is all about traveling through the back roads and sitting down at the table with Italians. That is exactly what Elizabeth has done for her new book; she takes you to beautiful hidden gems all over Italy. She guides you regarding what not to miss and what to locally eat and where to eat it. On top of that , she scattered delicious regional recipes throughout the book. Eating My Way Through Italy is a savory book onItaly, one that you will take with you on your next trip to italy and to y9our kitchen when you long for those Italian flavors at home.” – Lidia Bastianich, chef/restauranteur and host of public televisions Lidia’s Table.

 

Eating Rome: Living the Good Life in the Eternal City (St. Martins 2015)

I’ve been eating my way through Rome since I was 12 years old. Eating Rome is my homage to the city that feeds me, literally and figuratively. My story is a personal, quirky and deliciously entertaining look at some of the city’s monuments to food culture. Join me as I take you on a stroll through my favorite open air markets; stop by the best gelato shops; order plates full of carbonara and finish the day with a brilliant red Negroni. Coffee, pizza, artichokes and grappa are starting points for mouth-watering stories about this ancient city. Illustrated with my full-color photos and enriched with my favorite recipes for Roman classics like vignarola, carciofi alla romana and carbonara, Eating Rome is the book that you want if you are planning your first trip to Rome or if you have been to Rome a dozen times or if you simply want to visit the city virtually.

“A true insider’s culinary guide to Rome. Elizabeth Minchilli takes us into the city’s trattorias, cafes, pizzerias, and gelaterias. Each time I’ve been to Rome, I’ve turned to Elizabeth for advice and have never been steered wrong.. In Eating Rome, she generously shares all she loves about this delicious city, including recipes and favorite addresses, with everyone, and makes me hungry to go back. In fact, after reading these pages, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be ready to book a flight to Rome — pronto!” – David Lebovitz, chef, blogger and cookbook author

I’ve provided links above through Amazon (and I also get a bit of a commission ) but I’d also be thrilled if you ordered any or all of these books through your favorite independent bookstore. Here are the publishers book links, that will lead you to alternative ways to order:

The Italian Table
Eating My Way Through Italy
Eating Rome

And here are some of my favorite independent small bookshops that will be happy to send copies of these books anywhere you’d like:

Barrington Books, Rhode Island
Ominvore Books, San Francisco
Left Bank Books , St Louis
Now Serving, LA
Book Passage, San Francisco & Bay Area
Rakestraw Books, Danville (Bay Area)
Book Larder, Seattle
I Am Books, Boston

One final endorsement from Kitty who suggests you pile up all three books in a window seat and then take a nap.