Review: Brunetti's Cookbook

Author: Roberta Pianaro with Culinary stories by Donna Leon
Format: 288 pgs
Subject: Food

Genre: cookbook
Source: Amazon online purchase

This is not a beginner's cookbook. There are no pictures of the recipes, nor are the dishes familiar to the majority of Americans raised to believe Italian equals breaded veal parmesan, and ravioli with meatballs.   What it does offer is a collection of wonderful northern Italian dishes, featured in the very popular Commissario Brunetti detective series written by Donna Leon.  I could read these adventures over and over. Brunetti is one of my favorite fictional characters, and between his wife Paola, his dear, now departed Mama, and all the lovely tratorria in the area, a story of his adventures always includes many scenes of food, eating, and family mealtimes.

There are wonderful essays by Roberta Pianaro about food sources, growing and harvesting, and the changes taking place in the modern city of Venice in which the old markets are being replaced by glass shops, and other tourist attractions.  The recipes are well presented, well arranged, and definitely have one reaching for the olive oil, the apron, and a glass of wine to begin the cooking adventure.

Each section of recipes includes an except from one of Leon's books featuring not only the food, but the entire philosphy of eating that is the foundation of Italian life: Mangia, mangia, ti fa bene (Eat, eat, it's good for you).  It even has the recipe for Brunetti's mother's "Lasagna con cuori di carciofo e prosciutto" (Lasagna with artichoke hearts and Prosciutto).

I certainly will have no trouble following the exhortations with this wonderful guide at my disposal.  After paging thru the entire book, and reading the essays, I have at least fifteen bookmarks sticking out virtually screaming "Cook this first!"  This is a book for the serious Italian cook, the serious Donna Leon fan, and the serious lover of good seafood and fresh produce.  Tutti a tavola, mangiamo.

Wednesday Earplugs- the Weekly audios- Dec 9th

It has been a bummer week for listening...the AV unit in my car went catywhompas and was out of service for almost a week.  I finally got it partly fixed today, but the MP3 and CD disc slot still don't work right -so if I want to listen to a taped book while I'm driving, it's "Too bad, so Sad.."  BUMMER.

Since my listening has been limited to the house or walking outside, it was a slow week.
 Here's the wrap-up:

Excursion to Tindari

Andrea Camilleri
narrated by Grover Gardner


Another in the Inspector Montalbano series. The irrascible detective hasn't improved his social skills one bit, but other members of his team are learning to interpret his moods. In this story, they are looking for the killer of a playboy found dumped in front of his apartment, and tracking down a missing elderly couple who were last seen on a bus trip to Tindari. While at first the cases don't seem to be related, as clues emerge, and with the 'help' of one of the local maffiosi, our crew of brilliant detectives discover that they all lived in the same apt building. 

No spoilers....this is an enjoyable series, and I think getting better with each one. Recommended

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About Face

 by Donna Leon
narrated by David Colacci

It seems it has been the week for Italian crime stories.  Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti series, set in Venice is one of my favorites.  In this one, Brunetti must deal with corruption in the Carabinieri, his parents-in-law, a once gorgeous model with a seriously deformed face who quotes Cicero at dinner parties, toxic waste, garbage, and of course a murder.  These stories never fail to delight me...and David Colacci's narration and ability to inflect just enough Italian into the English is perfect.

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Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence--and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process

by Irene Pepperberg
narrated by Julia Gibson

I also tried twice to get into this one, and just couldn't --it looks like it should be a great story, about a parrot who lived to be over 30 years old and who exhibited great intelligence and ability to learn, but I was just not about to get interested.  So, it's back to the library for now, and I'll look for it in print to see if that makes it more palatable.

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So what's in your earphones these days?  Are you taking advantage of ear-reading opportunities while you wrap presents, bake cookies, or shovel snow?  Drop us a comment so we can compare notes.