Fabio’s Italian Kitchen

Follow Viviani into his Italian kitchen with this collection of 150 family-inspired recipes and personal stories that shaped his approach to joyful, energetic cooking. From humble beginnings in Tuscany—where mealtime was a family celebration and dishes were prepared with common-sense, simple ingredients and the principle that “less is more”—Viviani (popular Top Chef contestant and star of Chow Ciao! from Yahoo!) presents a passionate and confident approach to cooking that satisfies both cook and those who eat these unpretentious and uncomplicated dishes. Viviani offers recipes reflecting both his training and the best of traditional home-cooked food. Chapters feature classic appetizers; soups; pasta, gnocchi, and risotto; meat; seafood; chicken; salads; and desserts. My Grandma’s Overcooked Veal Shanks is a melt-in-your-mouth braised dish, and My Aunt From Siena’s Bean Soup marries sausage, wine, and cannellini beans. One chapter is dedicated solely to his mother’s go-to recipes—Pepper Stew, a pork-based Meat with Seven Flavors, and Tripe in Tomato. He cooks with aplomb. The cookbook is an infectious invitation to join in the fun and share that signature “Boom!” Viviani brings to cooking truly memorable Italian meals. (May)