I’m The Winner!

I’m a complete fool when it comes to cookbooks, especially those featuring Italian food. I read them like novels and use them for inspiration, dreaming that I’m preparing a meal in a cozy kitchen somewhere in Italy.

I could go and count how many Italian cookbooks that I own, but let it suffice to say that I now own one more. A few weeks ago I left a comment on Food Lover’s Odyssey and lo and behold I was the winner of a cookbook coming straight from the Amalfi Coast. Kathy, who writes this blog, is a trained culinary professional who spends time in both Italy and France and writes about her travels from culinary point of view. She also leads tours in Puglia and I long to tag along with her some day soon.

I’ve been patiently waiting for my book to arrive knowing that it was being sent from Mamma Agata’s Cooking School high above the sea in Ravello. Imagine my delight when I opened a heavy box bearing an Italian return address and found 2 pounds of pasta and and an apron from the cooking school in addition to the beautiful book. Thankfully it was my day off so I had the time to read the story of Mamma Agata, her family and her school. Being of southern Italian heritage the recipes in the book remind me so much of food that I grew up with. The book written by Chiara, Mamma Agata’s daughter, has stunning photos of both the food and the scenery. The recipes are easy to follow with step by step directions and tips for success in your own kitchen.

So I’m off to the kitchen to whip up a taste of Campania and have added Mamma Agata’s Cooking School to my ever growing list of things I have to do in Italy. A big “grazie” to Kathy and to Mamma Agata along with her family for sharing this piece of the Amalfi Coast with me.