Brutto: A (Simple) Florentine Cookbook

by Russell Norman

'Brutto is actually bellissimo. A perfect cookbook for lovers of true Tuscan food.
Simply brilliant.'
- STANLEY TUCCI

Brutto ma buono - ugly but good. This is the food of Florence - rigorously simple, few ingredients, exceptionally good.

Anchovy with cold butter and sourdough
Penne with tomato and vodka
Sausages with braised lentils and mustard
Roasted squash with borlotti bean and salsa verde
Country-style bread and tomato salad
3-ingredient meringue hazelnut cookies

The food of Florence rests on humble ingredients - not many - brought together in the rough-and-ready style of everyday cooking with flavour at its heart.

This stunning brand-new cookbook offers outstanding recipes from Russell Norman's acclaimed new restaurant, Trattoria Brutto, alongside an ode to one of Italy's most beloved cities, Florence, and specifically the bohemian district of Santo Spirito.

Including Russell's captivating stories and insider advice, Brutto is a proudly fuss-free recipe book to use every day, wherever you are, and an joyous tribute to Italy's greatest rustic cuisine.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Cuisine

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been on the lookout for a great Tuscan cookbook. I have 1 but the recipes don’t always turn out. I’m excited to try this one. I judge a florentine cookbook by its ribollita and peposo recipe and so far this looks good. It’s written by someone whose restaurant I have never been to so i cannot judge against their own recipes. One thing i see is that it uses ‘sourdough’ as the bread for some of the dishes, but it really should be the Tuscan bread which is included as a recipe in the book. I wish there was a recipe for schiacciata alla fiorentina, an Easter dessert that I have not been able to replicate, BUT there is schiacciata al’uvo so 🤷‍♀️

[Iryna Tymoshchenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Шикарна книга. Лаконічна, красива, настроєва. Добре розкриває кухню Флоренції через призму смачної ресторанної практики. Автор настільки ніжно описує Флоренцію і її звички, що захотілось знову там побувати, щоб роздивитись під цим кутом і місто і його гастрокультуру.
До речі, книга містить список ресторанів і траторій, в яких варто побувати і що скуштувати.

А фото просто неймовірної ламповості.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the simple traditional food of Italy and in particular Tuscany. Brutto, one of my favourite restaurants to visit in London, the other being Locanda Locatelli (but I can’t afford to eat there regularly), has taken the trattoria’s of Florence and captured their essence in these pages.

[Dr John D Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The next best thing to being there

A wonderful selection of anecdotes and recipes that conjure up the heady smells and tastes of Florence, even on a cold, wet June day in England. Loved it!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The four recipes I’ve tried from this book have all produced beautiful (er, brutto!) results. Rich, deep flavour, simple ingredients, and repeatedly praised. It’s also a gorgeous book to rifle through or simply view on the shelf, would make a superb gift for the food lover or italophilia.

[Stephen Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-executed and refreshing take on the Italian cookbook with beautiful typeface and binding. Russell Norman has written this cookbook to be read cover to cover with each recipe lending little handy notes for the next. It feels like Russell’s personality and passion is right there with me reading. I LOVE that the recipes include suggested uses for leftover food highlighting the important focus on sustainability in cooking. These are often comical too although no spoilers here. Each recipe is well described with beautiful pictures and fits well into the book’s focus on simplicity and excellent ingredients. I hadn’t heard of ‘Bratto’ as a restaurant until today but I look forward to visiting soon and making the delights jumping off the pages!