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AMMAZZA!: Culinary Adventures from New York to Italy and Back Again
The long-awaited cookbook from four-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Hillary Sterling, featuring over 100 seasonal recipes showcasing the delicious dishes that have earned her acclaim at the helm of Ci Siamo, Danny Meyer’s “flat-out fantastic” (The New York Times) restaurant.
A celebration of a life devoted to food, Ammazza! blends story, substance, and soul. Raised in a tight-knit Jewish household in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn—where her grandmother kept kosher downstairs and her family broke the rules upstairs—Sterling shares over 100 recipes that trace her path from her early days as a young cook, to her later love affair with Italian cooking, and her career spent in the kitchens of New York’s most beloved restaurants.
Following the rhythm of the seasons, these recipes showcase Sterling’s brilliance with flavor. Interspersed are menus rooted in family and tradition, with inspired twists—she brings an Italian spin to the Passover table, and shares a Mexican Thanksgiving feast influenced by her time at Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill.
A standout cookbook for home cooks, Ammazza! offers smart, encouraging tips throughout—from how to clean artichokes to frying at home without fear.
Whether you’re searching for the best pasta cookbook, a gift for foodies, or a coffee table cookbook as beautiful as it is practical, Ammazza! is packed with bold recipes, culinary storytelling, and the know-how of a chef who cooks with both precision and heart.
A celebration of a life devoted to food, Ammazza! blends story, substance, and soul. Raised in a tight-knit Jewish household in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn—where her grandmother kept kosher downstairs and her family broke the rules upstairs—Sterling shares over 100 recipes that trace her path from her early days as a young cook, to her later love affair with Italian cooking, and her career spent in the kitchens of New York’s most beloved restaurants.
Following the rhythm of the seasons, these recipes showcase Sterling’s brilliance with flavor. Interspersed are menus rooted in family and tradition, with inspired twists—she brings an Italian spin to the Passover table, and shares a Mexican Thanksgiving feast influenced by her time at Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill.
A standout cookbook for home cooks, Ammazza! offers smart, encouraging tips throughout—from how to clean artichokes to frying at home without fear.
Whether you’re searching for the best pasta cookbook, a gift for foodies, or a coffee table cookbook as beautiful as it is practical, Ammazza! is packed with bold recipes, culinary storytelling, and the know-how of a chef who cooks with both precision and heart.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Netgalley ARC- Pretty cookbook with an eclectic mix of recipes. Arranged seasonally, she relied heavily on her culinary heritage and experience to create very rich menus. I wish there were more food focused photography but what's there shows some good looking food. The recipes are fairly simple, but have multiple steps which may prevent some novice cooks from accessing, but it would also make a great coffee table book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sometimes a chef does not have to be born into a culture to present its foods with as much love and appreciation as someone who learned the family recipes at the elbows of their grandmothers. With a deep respect for the culture and an understanding of ingredients, adopting the flavors of a culture and perhaps blending it with those things that the chef may have learned from other places can create something delightful. The chef's introduction tells her story, her Brooklyn Jewish roots, path to culinary school, travel, love of the smells and tastes of Rome, and experience working in some name-drop-worthy restaurants in New York. Beyond the introduction is the usual cookbook intro of terms, measures, and pantry ingredients before diving into the recipe chapters, separated by season or occasion. The chapters are Spring, Passover, Summer, Fall, Mexican Thanksgiving Feast, Winter, Ammazza Menu, and Ammazza Fondamente. The division by season makes sense, cooking with those ingredients that are at their peak in that time of year. Though most of the recipes are Italian fare, there are some non-traditional adaptations stemming from either the chef's own roots or travels. Though there are meat-centric recipes, there is an abundance of vegetable dishes that encourages mixing and matching to create meals from within each chapter. The recipes have the usual ingredient and direction sections along with a short blurb and almost all come with a photo of the finished product. The additional step-by-steps photos for several techniques like fresh made pasta or cleaning and trimming an artichoke are great in the case of things that are easier to show than describe and something I have missed in many other books. Overall, it isn't just a pretty book but an instructive one and I can't wait to try many of these recipes in my own kitchen.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Scribner) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Scribner) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
May 19, 2026
AMMAZZA! felt like so much more than a cookbook to me. It reads as both a celebration of Italian cuisine and a reflection on Hillary Sterling’s tight-knit Jewish upbringing in Brooklyn and the experiences that shaped her as a chef. I really enjoyed learning about her journey to hone her craft, the places, dishes, and techniques that influenced her cooking, because it made the book feel personal rather than just a collection of recipes.
One of my favorite things about this cookbook is how it’s organized by season. It makes the recipes feel intentional and inspiring, and I found myself bookmarking dishes based on what I could imagine cooking throughout the year. There’s something really satisfying about a cookbook that encourages you to cook with the seasons instead of against them.
The photography is absolutely beautiful and adds so much to the experience of flipping through the book. Even when I wasn’t actively planning to cook something, I enjoyed simply spending time with it.
That said, I do think this cookbook is best suited for someone with at least a bit of confidence in the kitchen. I wouldn’t necessarily hand this to a complete beginner. The recipes feel approachable and achievable, but they assume a certain comfort level with cooking techniques and ingredients. For home cooks who enjoy stretching themselves a bit or who already have some culinary experience, though, this feels like an incredible source of inspiration — especially if you love seasonal ingredients and discovering things slightly off the beaten path (looking at you, ramps!).
Overall, this was a beautiful, inspiring cookbook that made me want to cook, learn, and pay more attention to the seasons. Not necessarily weeknight beginner cooking, but absolutely a cookbook I’ll keep returning to for ideas and inspiration.
A special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this amazing ARC!
One of my favorite things about this cookbook is how it’s organized by season. It makes the recipes feel intentional and inspiring, and I found myself bookmarking dishes based on what I could imagine cooking throughout the year. There’s something really satisfying about a cookbook that encourages you to cook with the seasons instead of against them.
The photography is absolutely beautiful and adds so much to the experience of flipping through the book. Even when I wasn’t actively planning to cook something, I enjoyed simply spending time with it.
That said, I do think this cookbook is best suited for someone with at least a bit of confidence in the kitchen. I wouldn’t necessarily hand this to a complete beginner. The recipes feel approachable and achievable, but they assume a certain comfort level with cooking techniques and ingredients. For home cooks who enjoy stretching themselves a bit or who already have some culinary experience, though, this feels like an incredible source of inspiration — especially if you love seasonal ingredients and discovering things slightly off the beaten path (looking at you, ramps!).
Overall, this was a beautiful, inspiring cookbook that made me want to cook, learn, and pay more attention to the seasons. Not necessarily weeknight beginner cooking, but absolutely a cookbook I’ll keep returning to for ideas and inspiration.
A special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this amazing ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ammazza! is a vibrant cookbook that blends culinary storytelling with seasonal recipes inspired by Hillary Sterling’s journey from Brooklyn to some of New York’s most celebrated kitchens. The book reflects her deep love of Italian cooking while also weaving in influences from family traditions and the many restaurants where she honed her craft.
The recipes feel thoughtful and rooted in strong technique, with helpful tips throughout that make them approachable for home cooks who want to expand their skills. The storytelling adds warmth and context, giving readers a sense of the people and experiences behind the food.
One thing I wished for was more photographs of the finished dishes. While the writing and recipes are compelling, additional food photography would make it even easier to imagine the final results and feel inspired to cook from the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this book for review.
The recipes feel thoughtful and rooted in strong technique, with helpful tips throughout that make them approachable for home cooks who want to expand their skills. The storytelling adds warmth and context, giving readers a sense of the people and experiences behind the food.
One thing I wished for was more photographs of the finished dishes. While the writing and recipes are compelling, additional food photography would make it even easier to imagine the final results and feel inspired to cook from the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this book for review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ammazza is a chef's cookbook. This isn't just a cookbook for experienced cooks and chefs. It's a cookbook for people who have regular access to a quality farmers' market, a knowledgeable butcher, and other specialty markets (things like lamb belly, goat butter, fava beans, bottarga). The author is an NYC chef. She chose to highlight specialty ingredients that won't be readily accessible outside of urban centers like NYC. I could see how intimidating this book could feel. The first recipe involves making ramp confit. The challenging part will be sourcing ramps, even when in season. Other recipes have a laundry list of ingredients and elaborate steps to make.
The photography, when present, is beautiful, and I like how the book is organized by season. The recipes sound delicious, but I have a hard time imagining making the effort to make much from the book. I read an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.
The photography, when present, is beautiful, and I like how the book is organized by season. The recipes sound delicious, but I have a hard time imagining making the effort to make much from the book. I read an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.
May 17, 2026
This is a fantastic cookbook that offers a wonderful blend of traditional Italian recipes and fresh, family-inspired dishes. The book beautifully draws on Sterling's tight-knit Jewish upbringing in Brooklyn and her impressive culinary pedigree, tracing her journey through the kitchens of New York’s top restaurants to bring these dishes to life.
I especially appreciated that the book is organized by season, which is very motivating for cooking with fresh, seasonal produce. The recipes strike the perfect balance between approachable and elevated, and I have already saved quite a few that I can't wait to try!
My only small critique is that I would have loved to see more photos throughout the book. As a visual person, I prefer having a reference for how the final dish is supposed to look. That being said, the photographs that were included are absolutely beautiful.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy in return for my honest review.
I especially appreciated that the book is organized by season, which is very motivating for cooking with fresh, seasonal produce. The recipes strike the perfect balance between approachable and elevated, and I have already saved quite a few that I can't wait to try!
My only small critique is that I would have loved to see more photos throughout the book. As a visual person, I prefer having a reference for how the final dish is supposed to look. That being said, the photographs that were included are absolutely beautiful.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I chose to not read about this book before reading it - and I was so surprised! Being from the South/Midwest, I hate to sound like a dumb American here, but I never thought about Jewish/Italian/NYC cooking culture. It really demonstrates how you don't have to be born into a culture to appreciate the food or adopt it respectfully.
This book is rooted in strong cooking technique, understanding complex flavors, and having a wide variety of strange ingredients (strange to the standard kitchen in the broader US specifically) - so I don't think this book is for the beginner cook. However, your cook-foodie friends will LOVE this book.
All that aside, it's a gorgeous book. Would love to own a hard copy!
This book is rooted in strong cooking technique, understanding complex flavors, and having a wide variety of strange ingredients (strange to the standard kitchen in the broader US specifically) - so I don't think this book is for the beginner cook. However, your cook-foodie friends will LOVE this book.
All that aside, it's a gorgeous book. Would love to own a hard copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
While I thought this book was stunning, I do wish there was more pictures of the food that is in the book. Some of the recipes that I wish had pictures, didn't. Also, some of the ingredients would be harder for me to find without trying to find a farmers market. Unfortunately, I don't live close to any that would have those types of selections.
I will say that this cookbook definitely gave me great ideas for dinners and lunches in the future and I can't wait to try those out. I just wish it was a little more home cook friendly.
I will say that this cookbook definitely gave me great ideas for dinners and lunches in the future and I can't wait to try those out. I just wish it was a little more home cook friendly.
August 6, 2026
This was a very well put together cookbook by a Four-Time James Beard nominated chef.
I love how Hillary Sterling openly shared tidbits about her own upbringing, education and current life along with the recipes while at the same time not turning this into a lengthy biography--just enough information that it gave me an idea of who she is as a person.
From gorgeous pictures to recipes as simple as two-ingredient pizza dough English muffins to an 18 ingredient Insalata di Castelfranco( Whipped eggs and Bottarga) There appears to be something for everyone.
I love how Hillary Sterling openly shared tidbits about her own upbringing, education and current life along with the recipes while at the same time not turning this into a lengthy biography--just enough information that it gave me an idea of who she is as a person.
From gorgeous pictures to recipes as simple as two-ingredient pizza dough English muffins to an 18 ingredient Insalata di Castelfranco( Whipped eggs and Bottarga) There appears to be something for everyone.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This a great Jewish Italian American cookbook for gourmet cooks and eaters. There are lots of stories and photos. I try to cook locally and sustainably with mainly home grown, foraged and frugal ingredients, so this isn’t a good fit for me, but the recipes seem fantastic. Do plan to spend a bit of time and money, but I have no doubt it will be worth it. No nutritional information is provided.
I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.
I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.
Did Not Finish
March 20, 2026it feels unfair to leave a rating if a cookbook i won't cook anything from so I'll leave the stars blank. thank you to Goodreads for the free copy of this book, the arc copy is in black and white but i bet the photos will look beautiful in color. unfortunately for me I don't be able to make any of the recipes as I have dietary restrictions on sodium and a lot of the recipes have a lot of salt, so they aren't really adaptable for me. but they all sound delicious!
May 14, 2026
I have really enjoyed flipping through this cookbook, which combines engaging storytelling with delicious recipes. Chef Sterling clearly loves what she does and her enthusiasm shines through. There’s a wide variety of dishes here, many with a fun twist on the traditional and an emphasis on eating seasonally. Plus lots of tips to improve your cooking skills. I’ve bookmarked several recipies to try soon!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
My rating 3.4, some ingredients would be hard for me to find locally. Plus I’m not fund of a recipe that is on multiple pages. I find that hard when in the kitchen creating the recipe. Interesting reading by author though of her stories.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.
More aspirational with a lot of the recipes I was a bit overwhelmed by the foods in this cookbook. I'm sure they are delicious but they don't seem beginner or user friendly. Also I could do with more pictures of the food.
More aspirational with a lot of the recipes I was a bit overwhelmed by the foods in this cookbook. I'm sure they are delicious but they don't seem beginner or user friendly. Also I could do with more pictures of the food.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a lovely cookbook with great photos and lots of fun storytelling along with it. The mostly Italian recipes were not quite anything that a middle aged Midwestern working person would do on a random Thursday after work, but they probably weren't meant to. It was a fun one to read though.
July 4, 2026
AMMAZZA! is a unique cookbook that includes recipes rooted in Italian heritage. Some recipes are classics and the basis for many others, while others are modern takes on classics, influenced by New York and its diversity.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This book is exactly what I was hoping it would be! Amazing Italian dishes with an Americanized twist that makes me so excited to go start cooking.
June 25, 2026
What a lovely cookbook! I made a fantastic sungold tomato salad from this book that was both visually stunning and delicious! Check this one out for some inspirational Italian recipes.
July 31, 2026
There are a few recipes i would like to try but i do wish the book and pictures had a bit more color.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews