Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen

by Gina DePalma, Gina DePalma

Scrumptious, easy-to-make Italian desserts from the hand of a master. “Follow the seasons. Keep the flavors pure and straightforward. Use proper yet simple techniques.” Applying this aesthetic to the Italian tradition, Gina DePalma has created a cookbook of the desserts that have wowed diners at Babbo, New York’s most coveted reservation since it opened eight years ago with DePalma as pastry chef. From her exciting imagination spring desserts such as Sesame and White Corn Biscotti, Little Grappa Soaked Spongecakes, and Chocolate and Tangerine Semifreddo. Recipes for classics like Cassata alla Siciliana join new interpretations of traditional desserts such as White Peach and Prosecco Gelatina. More than just a cookbook, Dolce Italiano reveals the ten ingredients you need to know to make Italian desserts, along with wine pairings to accompany the recipes. Never before has a cookbook given home cooks a chance to experience the full variety and subtlety of Italian desserts. Mario Batali has called Dolce Italiano “pure inspiration.”

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Italy, Food, Culinary

384 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2007

Reviews

[Pixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if I will ever make these desserts, or if it is just food porn to fantasize about, but this is an amazing book. In addition to the great recipes, there are lots of stories about what they serve at Babbo, how they serve it, and all the Italian background info that goes along with it.

[ft2cm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb recipes but be prepared to find some specific ingredients that you won't have on hand in the normal US kitchen. The REAL stuff makes it more authentic and better!

TO DO: Make the Torta Caprese

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lemony Semolina Cookies are amazing. Try them now.

[S Vanorse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of history, seriously, page 44 before you hit an actual recipe, but it gives you the feeling that this woman, DePalma loved putting this recipe book together and didn’t want to leave anything out, truly loved baking and wanted to share her knowledge and recipes with the public. Recipes written in clear easy to read instructions, a lay flat book which I love because you don’t have the book closing or jumping pages when following a recipe. Several marked on my to try list. Sadly this baker is no longer with us as DePalma passed away at age 45 from ovarian cancer, I am betting she is cooking with the angels, how lucky are they.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were like 5 pictures in this whole book!!! The cover looks exciting and yum, but you open the book and it is the kind of paper that does not have the finish on it and it is just the recipe. There are a decent amount of ingredients and the instructions are PLENTY. This is not a book for the novice baker to try this is for someone who has experience baking fancy things. Needless to say I did not enjoy this book.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this baking cookbook. I think I've been exposed to too many blah Italian cookbooks and this one really broke the blah mold. Novel and delishious recipes, all very Italian. presented vy type of dessert (cake, cookie, etc. recommended.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so disappointed in this book--I read cookbooks because of recipes AND PICTURES of the recipes. This book did not have enough pictures and the pictures were scattered throughout the book, not at all near the recipes they represented.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

so many yummy recipies, but only one or two I think I will actually make.

[Kate]

Made the citrus-glazed polenta cake. It was pretty okay.

[Karen Marchello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The zucchini cake recipe is great!