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The author has opened a whole new vista regarding the versitility and scope of Italian cooking. Recipies are not limited to the ones used in Italian homes on a daily basis, but are expanded into the culinary aena. The author exibits a creativeness that places her in the catagory of culinary artist. From basic cooking to presentation, she has elevated the mundane to a state of artistic achievement.

Lidia's Italy is Lidia Bastianich's latest cookbook. In this book she travels to her home town and favorite places in Italy. While in each place, she reminisces and cooks a meal from the local food. The recipes were not only enticing, but easily made at home! The photographs are spectacular! She literally "takes you with her!" You will want to make the dishes and travel to these coastal towns. I'd recommend this anyone who enjoys cooking and eating Italian food!

Lidia's genuine warmth and love of cooking shines through on every page of this beautiful book. Not only does she provide information about the region where each particular dish originates, but she goes out of her way to help you enjoy the preparation and serving of the dish to friends and family. She also gives the reader encouragement and freedom to make substitutions where needed for ingredients that may not be available. The history of different regions that is provided in each chapter also makes for good reading. The well-written recipes, the illustrations, the beautiful scenery, and the wonderful people that Lidia has spotlighted in her book are all truly inspiring. It really is like having a friend over.

The book Lidia's Italy is like a Bible for cooking. The detail of her recipes plus seeing her do them on TV makes the recipe that is tried as close to hers as possible. I have all five of her books and I have been pleased as has my family and company that have eaten the food not the books. Hooray! for Lidia and her sharing her knowledge of preparing many meals. I think we need an index book to cross reference recipes fom one book to the next.

This book reflects Lidia's cooking show on PBS. She is an excellent cook, dealing with food in true Italian fashion, which is simply and forthrightly. Good food does not need to be mile high and include hundreds of ingredients and tons of spices. Her philosophy of cooking mirrors my own grandmother's, who use to say that as long as the basic ingredient is of excellent quality, you don't need to do much to it! The recipes are easy to follow and the photography is beautiful and the history of food of the various regions in Italy by Lidia's daughter is interesting and educational.