Rocco's Italian-American

by Rocco DiSpirito

The star of NBC's reality show The Restaurant dishes up the mouthwatering Italian classics that made his TV show and eateries so hot. A delicious collection of timeless family recipes -- including Mamma's Meatballs -- from culinary superstar Rocco DiSpirito! Superstar chef Rocco DiSpirito made a name for himself by taking flavor where it had never gone before. But this decorated chef who blazed through the Culinary Institute of America and burst onto New York's fine dining scene -- landing himself on the cover of Gourmet -- actually honed his taste buds on the timeless Italian recipes handed down through his family for generations. Rocco's Italian-American lifts the lid on these age-old meals and shares their secrets, as well as the histories and family traditions that go along with them. More than just a cookbook, Rocco's Italian-American is a celebration of the family recipes and experiences of one immigrant family in New York and is sure to become a classic. It is also filled with the wisdom of Rocco's Mamma, who is beloved by the millions who know her from her television appearances. Each delicious recipe includes a personal note on the dish, a story associated with it, or a variation preferred by certain relatives. The book is organized by parts of the meal (antipasto, soup, pasta, fish, meat, salad, bread, sweets, and holiday menus). Rocco describes the techniques of the Italian-American kitchen and instructs on the indispensable ingredients, such as tomatoes, olive oil, basil, and beans. The book is lavishly illustrated with (old and new) photos and other artifacts and mementos from his family's treasure chest, including maps, handwritten recipes, and childhood drawings. Now for the first time, Rocco shares his favorite family recipes, including: --Mamma's Meatballs
--Mamma's Frittata
--Sardines with Fennel and Orange
--Farfalle with Grilled Sausage, Fennel, and Baby Artichoke
--Rabbit Cacciatore
--Red Snapper and Heirloom Tomatoes Poached in Olive Oil
--Asparagus with Besciamella
--Poached Cherries with Ricotta Gelato and Toasted Pandoro

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baked Sausage and Nutella Panini
walnut-ricotta pesto with no basil
sardines + fennel + orange

wacky book

some are disappointed with it, some find the recipes lacking, others like the simplicity

---

His best books?
The first five he did

Flavor - Nov 2003
Rocco's Italian American - Nov 2004
Rocco's Five Minute Flavor - Dec 2005
Rocco's Real Life Recipes - Dec 2007
Rocco Gets Real - Oct 2008

he made his reputation with fancy stuff like

scallops topped with sea urchin, tomato, mustard oil and black mustard

or grilling meat over Japanese Binchotan white-oak charcoal which is smokeless and doesn't smell but has a lot of flavor for a lot of money

and he sold his soul for reality television and diet books
and cookbooks with endless canned foods for a quick meal

[Lisa Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those cookbooks that you read first, and refer to regularly after that. The first 73 pages are a narrative written by Rocco about growing up Italian American, how he got into the food business, and what influenced him along the way. There are lots of pictures and I truly enjoyed the read. Then we get into the nitty gritty with tons and tons of really fantastic recipies. I grew up in an Italian-American household but sadly, I did not have the opportunity to really cook with my relatives (I did some of the peeling and stirring and mixing, but I was very young). I remember the delicious food, but not all the steps & ingredients necessary to make them. Now that my relatives have passed on, this cookbook is my link to those delicious Sunday dinners and holiday feasts. This is, without a doubt, my favorite cookbook; some of the pages are dog-eared and I've written in little reminders or comments about subsitutions (we have some allergies in my household so I need to tweak a little here & there). The last section titled "The Italian-American Pantry" is indispensible! I bought a young cousin a copy as part of her shower gift & she said it was singlehandedly responsible for her success in the kitchen after she got married! Keeping those pantry ingredients on hand in my own kitchen helps me throw together healthy homemade meals quickly and what working mom doesn't appreciate that!? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for both the entertainment value and the tasty dishes! Thanks Rocco!

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mama's Meatballs are in here! Yum. Still need an autograph for this one.

[Janene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Italian recipes & a fun look at the author's ancestry/family. Loads of Italian family pics and easy to understand recipes. Highly recommend!

[Andrea Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are from an Italian American family, this will take you home in many ways. The family stories and pictures are as familiar as the food.