Monday, January 3, 2011

Breaking Bread in L'Aquila


Maria Filice is on a quest to inspire 1,000,000 people with her recent cookbook that helps create positive change with the book proceeds and is written from the heart. I had the opportunity to meet this dynamic author and women entrepreneur, who is one determined cookie, so to speak.

When a project is conceived out of passion, its roots show. This is the case with the new Italian trattoria-style cookbook, Breaking Bread in L'Aquila. Author Maria Filice traveled many times to L'Aquila, the hometown of her late husband, Paul Piccone, founder of Telos Press. She was immediately smitten by the fresh, clean, and incredibly tasty flavors of the region. There, Paul introduced his bride to San Biagio, a small and charming homestyle restaurant, owned by two brothers who knew how to make their customers happy through their warmth and delicious food. This book, whose recipes are inspired by those she sampled at San Biagio, shares Filice's favorite collection of appetizers, main courses, sides, and desserts.

Bold, colorful, and easy to prepare, these Italian-born dishes are as gorgeous to behold as they are to savor. And they don't take hours of kitchen work! The 49-plus recipes, which are organized according to the seven days of the week (but perfect for any day of the week), are made with ingredients available in your local markets. Red and white wines from the Abruzzo region, which complement the meals, are suggested, as are serving tips. In this practical and fun cookbook, Filice, whose family came from Calabria to Canada and who grew up with a love of food, cooking, and entertaining, guides readers on a personal journey, complete with charming storytelling and tasty tips, to one of the most beautiful areas of Italy's countryside.

I suggest this book in every kitchen and help spread the word about the story behind the creation of this book. Connect with Maria at Food and Fate, her amazing blog.