This book transports readers to the Tuscan region of Italy for the fresh and delicious recipes Stephanie and Maggie feature at their cooking schools. A tour through traditional Tuscan kitchens across the region features mouth-watering delicacies from Firenze to Siena, and beautiful photos of fresh ingredients, some finished dishes, many talented local cooks and their inspiring scenery. Every dish tells a story.
Food and wine and friendship matter more than almost anything I can think of.
Who am I?
Food and wine and friendship matter more than almost anything I can think of. Together they involve skill and craft and patience, and understanding and appreciation of difference, and the desire to bring happiness to others. Brushing past scented leaves in a garden, looking over a vineyard with the vines glowing gold in autumn sunshine, picking parsley outside the back door, pulling a cork from a bottle of wine, cutting into a ripe cheese, appreciating a wonderful apple, setting out a picnic on a bush table, debating the questions of the universe over a fine wine… all these things seem to me to confirm our humanity and to make me want to live for another day, another meal. In the end, I still believe there is no greater joy than sharing food, conversation and laughter around a table.
In 2012 I will publish my memoir A Cook’s Life. Anyone who would like to know more about me will enjoy reading this book. There are many reminiscences and anecdotes in amongst the facts.
These days I spend most of my time supporting the team that makes the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation project function and grow. I also visit as many of our participating schools as I can and am delighted every time to be greeted by smiling faces and platters of delicious food.
Such a treat to finally read this - loads of great ideas to cook fresh seasonal food, and such sumptuous, gorgeous photos. I wonder what all the people who attended the cooking school in 1997 are doing now....