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Dear Francesca
 
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Dear Francesca [Hardcover]

Mary Contini
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Ebury Press; illustrated edition edition (9 May 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0091881765
  • ISBN-13: 978-0091881764
  • Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 17.2 x 3.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 68,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Contini
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Product Description

Review

'part cookery, part storytelling - and wholly beguiling...don't miss it: there won't be a better cookbook published this decade', Elisabeth Luard, Daily Mail .'a charming story...she unravels the family history like a precious thread...Contini's writing has a naturalness and honesty about it that brings a lump to the throat on occasion. It is full of warmth, love and respect for traditional Italian attitudes to food as the cornerstone of a nurturing family life. A lovely unmissable book.', Sunday Herald .'a really heartwarming book of recollections and recipes, recounted with love and gusto', Sainsbury's Magazine .'a remarkable book...a pleasure to read as well as to cook from', Homes & Gardens .'From the barren mountains of Southern Italy to the chilly streets of Edinburgh, this is a joy - both in and out of the kitchen', Choice Magazine --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Homes & Gardens

"a remarkable book...a pleasure to read as well as to cook from" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Customer Reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
64 of 65 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What a delightful book! My copy only arrived this morning and I've been unable to put it down all day. I've already ordered another copy for my daughter's birthday.
This is not just a recipe book it is full of wonderful tales of life, past and present, in Italy and in Scotland. There are superb suggestions on equipment and techniques and I can tell that the recipes are well and truly 'tried and tested'.
It is all written in an easily readable, light-hearted and loving manner by someone who is obviously passionate about food and about her family. I particularly like the description of a '99' Cone - a cone with vanilla ice-cream on top and a Cadbury's Flake stuck into it - but if you have given up sweets for lent, hide the Flake in the cone before topping with the ice-cream!
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this unique book. Buy one for yourself and for all of your friends and family. They'll love you for it!
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
A great book 26 Aug 2005
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
My wife bought this book in paperback before we left for a year in Italy in August 2003. It is a delightful story about two an Italian immigrant families and their lives after leaving Italy for Scotland in the 1900's. It is about coping in a new country, integrating cultures and returning home to the 'famlia' every now and then. It is a hugely readable book and full of authentic Italian recipes. We use it constantly. While we were in Italy, if we were told about a dish and forgotten the ingredients, we would look it up and sure as nuts, Mary Contini's got it! We recently gave it to visiting friends as we left it too late to get them a new copy, so we gave them ours. We survived a week without it. We now have spoilt ourselves with the hardcover! It is a must for anyone who loves Italian Food!
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I want to see more stars against this book, which is why I am typing this review. Having lived in Italy, I was searching for an authentic Italian cookbook and when this book was given to me by a discerning friend, I knew I had found what I was looking for. It is a real delight...so full of useful tips ...not just about the process of cooking the recipes but about the ingredients themselves. It is the book every Italian mother should hand on to her daughter! Those readers who may be put off by the lack of photos of the actual recipes should think again...Mary's recipes are delicious and foolproof. Italy on a plate! I struggled for years making my own pasta using the instructions which came with the (Italian) machine....but once I followed Mary's instructions, pasta became 'a breeze' and now I can knock it out like a true Italian 'mamma'! Her lasagne al forno is to die for. The book is also a wonderful story of an Italian family, and I kept it by my bedside and read it from cover to cover. Une vera gioia!!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Best Cook Book Ever .....and I own several
As I write this review I have a lasagne in the oven made from the recipe in this book, it is the most indulgent and delicious lasagne ever, you will not get better in a... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Patsy
Fabulous purchase.
This book,s dust cover is the start of a wonderful encounter with life, food and enjoyment. It's not just a cook book and to be honest even if you never tried any of the recipes it... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Gadowomam
My cooking Bible
I'm half Italian and my mother bought me and both my sister's a copy of this book. It's so lovely to read and has become my cooking Bible. Read more
Published 14 months ago by chikicksass
A great read for chefs.
This was recommended to me as a friends favourite recipie book. It reads as a story with the recipies appearing along the way, a lovely and different way of learning about Italian... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Wendy
Much more than just a cookbook!
As someone who was born in Edinburgh and has a passion for Italian food, I absolutely loved this account of how the author's family came to Scotland from Italy and started various... Read more
Published 17 months ago by cassie
Further nostalgia
I bought this because it is the follow on to Dear Olivia, which I am reading presently and hope to find out more about Picinisco and it's families in my search towards tracing my... Read more
Published on 17 May 2010 by V. B. Nunnari
Dear Francesca
I purchased this book some years ago, the deli Valvona & Crolla run by Mary and her Husband is based in Edinburgh and influenced my decision to buy. Read more
Published on 14 April 2010 by Mrs. R. Macgregor
Biased
I'm Biased as I bought this book because I'm a member of the Crolla family, but it did turn out to be an interesting read!
Published on 14 Mar 2006 by TR Wolf
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