Sunshine, warm winds, the blue Mediterranean sea, the scent of orange flowers and herbs, and good, simple, seductive food. Over the course of twenty years of trips to Italy, husband and wife Tomas Tengby and Ulrika Tengby Holm gathered impressions, recipes, knowledge, and stories about Italy's culinary culture, from the Alps in the north to Sicily in the south. A testament to the region's incredible culinary richness, Art of Italian Cooking offers more than 180 classic recipes for appetizers, pastas, grilled fish, meat dishes, irresistible vegetables, and sweet desserts, from ice cream to almond cakes. Find authentic recipes such as:

• Orange and fennel salad
• Melon and prosciutto soup
• Spaghetti with peas, pancetta, and mint
• Tagliatelle with walnut pesto
• Penne with spicy tomato sauce
• Ricotta gnocchi with spinach
• Risotto with pancetta and sage
• Meatballs with lemon
• Monkfish with capers and lemon
• Stuffed anchovies with pecorino
• Eggplant casserole with mozzarella and Parmesan
• Focaccia with rosemary
• Pizza margherita
• Almond and chocolate cake

Along with sumptuous photography, the book also includes a useful glossary of ingredients, as well as a guide to the specialties of each region and reflections on the art of cooking and eating in Italy. Learn about the role of food in Italian life, what a typical meal consists of, techniques for proper cooking, wine, and even the best music to cook to. La dolce vita--the sweet life. You don't have to live in Italy to experience it!