When I was a child, I dreamt of being adopted by an Italian family. I loved their accents, the way they sounded like they were shouting at everything when in fact they were carrying on a normal conversation, I loved how they always called me Bella and of course, their food.
Fast forward to my first year of high school where I spent the summer travelling around Europe with my family. Italy was my favourite of the ten countries we visited that summer, and this time I had dreams of marrying a vespa driving, cappucino drinking, dark eyed Italian as my ticket to that Italian family.
Through the years, I figured the only way to get my Italian family was to amass an unusually large number of Italian cookbooks. So when I told my husband that I had a copy of John Lanzafame’s Family Italian cookbook to review, he said what any practical husband would say “Don’t you have enough Italian cookbooks already?!”
So here in my hands was an Italian cookbook from that Italian family I never had but always dreamed of having.
So to answer my husband’s question whether I have enough Italian cookbooks? There’s always room for one more, especially when it’s inspired by Mum’s cooking.
John Lanzafame is a restauranteur, celebrity chef and a one time world pizza champion. He was also a member of the Australian Culinary Olympic Team that competed in Germany in 2008. His first book, Pizza Modo Mio (Pizza My Way) was a collection of recipes featuring both traditional and pizza recipes he has added his own twist to. Today he owns and runs Lanzafame Trattoria in Woolloomooloo and serves classic Italian dishes with a menu that changes based on fresh and seasonal produce available. His second cookbook is a reflection of this and goes back to the inspiration for most of his cooking style.
This book was incredibly important for me to write. It’s a collection of mum’s recipes , simple, gutsy and phenomenal meals that she’s cooked for many, many years. He says. So here we have a collection of 130 traditional recipes mostly handed down from his Mum and which he has given a bit of a modern touch.
The book is divided into nine sections
Assaggini which is the Italian version of real fast food. These are small dishes served before any party or can be pre-dinner bites. A number of these dishes can be made ahead of time in large quantities, stored in the fridge and consumed as needed. My eyes are drawn towards the fried sweet black olives and a simple dish of baked ricotta. There is also an interesting recipe for porcini mushroom panna cotta, a dish he has clearly modernized.
Antipasti or small plates for sharing. Lanzafame says Italians love to graze and Italians usually start a meal with antipasti and these are left of the table from the beginning to the end of the meal. This section covers more traditional dishes like Gamberi all’aglio (Garlic Prawns), carpaccios, to a rustic Olive and Sardine focaccia.
Insalate – In the Lanzafame household, many of the salads that were made would consist of any leftovers lightened up with a dressing (think osso bucco salad) – a testament to Italian resourcefulness.
Brodi, Polenta e Risotti covers more of the hearty Italian comfort food. One would almost assume the strong influence of his mother in these dishes as soups are made with affordable ingredients (think lentils, chickpeas and potatoes), there is also a beautiful chicken and polenta casserole and a taleggio and mushroom risotto.
Pasta (and gnocchi) – which includes a section on how to make it. If you are not inclined to make your own pasta, fret not as there are also recipes that use dry pasta as well.
Piatti Unici or one pot wonders feature one pot to cook in, eat in and clean from meals. Truly a mother’s invention don’t you think? There are classic dishes here like chicken parmigiana, veal marsala and chicken cacciatore.
La Griglia is a section about smoking and grilling that is dedicated to Lanzafame’s father who was a farmer. Some of the dishes include grilled prawns, slow roasted pork rack, and a whole snapper in crazy water – perfect for that Sunday family barbecue.
Dolci (Sweets) – Lanzafame admits that pastry is not his strong point. Don’t believe him! While his dishes are complex at all – they are drool worthy. For example, Tiramisu, Italian Trifle, Torta di Formaggio and Bigne Al Cioccolato (Chocolate Puffs) My only complaint? Not enough of them! 🙂
The last part of the covers some basic recipes used throughout the book including sauces and stocks.
Fettuccine alla carbonara
- 500 grams fettuccine pasta (there is a recipe in the book for this, alternatively, you can use dried pasta)
- 6 egg yolks
- 100 grams finely grated parmesan, plus extra to serve
- 150 grams pancetta, thinly sliced
- Place the egg yolks and parmesan in a small bowl. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper and lightly beat with a fork. Set aside.
- Place the pancetta in a large non stick frying pan over medium heat and cook until crisp, then remove pan from the heat.
- Just before the pancetta is ready, cook the fettuccine in a large saucepan of salted boiling water for 2 minutes or until the pasta is ready (longer for dried pasta). Drain and reserve 2 tablespoons of the cooking water.
- Add the fettuccine to the frying pan, toss to coat, then add the reserved cooking water, Stir in the egg yolk mixture and toss to combine well. Serve immediately, sprinkled with extra parmesan.
Recipe from Family Italian by John Lanzafame published by Murdoch Books RRP $45.00
Thank you to Murdoch Books for supplying me with a review copy.
I really like your recipe 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing.
You might also like to try the below version.
http://www.wascene.com/food-drink/fettuccine-carbonara-recipe/
Sara
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Trissa, I know John, and still havent got his book, as we have just returned from overseas….need to go find it.
If you are an italian cookbook lover, have you got “Lygon St”?
@Dee – thanks for the recommendation! I don’t have it yet but am always on the look out for great books.
We were looking at all the blog pics and Andro really really wants to eat this. We probably need to come for a visit soon. Andro is so takaw!
I have a couple of Italian recipe books but they never seemed to inspire.
I have downloaded various Italian recipes, but discover most are via the USA and resemble the typical Parma-Pasta institutions such as those in Lygon Street in Melbourne.
In my youth I had an Italian friend who’s mother cooked the most amazing delights and it was when browsing though John Lanafame’s book, I recognised some of these dishes!! Needless to say, I purchased it and couldn’t wait to get into the kitchen and relive some of those meals. I was not disappointed, my first was the Mullet with clams and fregola.
Thanks John, you’ve put Italy (Southern) back on our table!
Wow – six egg yolks??! That pasta looks amazing, though and even though it’s almost midnight over here and I’ve eaten lasagne for dinne, part of me is tempted to make this! You are a genius, Trissa. 🙂
Fettuccine alla carbonara is one of my comfort foods, I just love it. I grew up next to an Italian family and spent many hours watching Mrs C cook, she was a big influence on me.
how many cookbooks do you have now trissa? :))
I think we can never have enough of Italian cookbooks, especially those which were done and photographed well!
I will be checking out this book right away! What beautiful pics!
Being an owner of this book, I must say it’s a fab everyday Italian cookbook. Great review, Trissa!! I have yet to try his carbonara recipe. Guess what I am going to have for dinner tonight?
Although I am perfectly happy with my Carbonara recipe, that eggplant cake and mushroom risotto look tempting! I trust your judgement on cook books, Trissa. You did not steer us wrong on Movida’s cookbook and this one looks like a winner too!
Thank you!
Wow! That looks deliscious. I will definitely try this recipe as I have never made carbonara before. My husband will be very happy…..
I love carbonara but I’ve never cooked it at home because my hubs is not a huge fan of creamy pasta =( I can only look and drool here…
That books look wonderful, everything looks so appetizing!
Your carbonara looks fabulous!
Start me off with some whitebait fritters, follow it up with this fettuccine and wash it all down with a nice glass of wine and I’m in heaven 🙂
I decided to trawl through some of my fave bloggers for ideas for dinner tonight, I wanted something a bit quick (& of course had to have all the ingredients) and the first blog post that really spoke to me won. You won! Fettucinci Carbanara it is. Thanks lovely 🙂
Oh yes, me too, me too…. always wanted to grow up and marry a vespa driving, cappucino drinking, dark eyed Italian & live in an Italian family that’d call me Bella….., didn’t happen but it certainly occupied quite a serious ambition between 16 & 19 🙂 🙂 lol
Another great way to use those egg yolks! ;-D As much as I’m not a huge fan of Italian food (shoot me now), this dish looks fantastic!
I think it was good that you did not marry an Italian… I heard there is always a very high chance that the DIL will be subjugated by the MIL…. Now Italian food is another matter altogether. Thanks for the quick guide to Italian cooking. The carbonara looks really good.
This dish looks absolutely splendid! I’m so surprised the recipe doesn’t call for more black pepper, which is the main ingredient behind how the dish got its name (coal miners)!
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Fettucine Carbonara is my husbands favourite pasta.
And although I love Italian food I have always wanted to travel to Spain just to perv on the men…
Ahhh! Don’t get me started on the Spaniards with the brooding eyes!
Well said Trissa, it’s never enough italian cookbooks !! … and , jokes aside, I should get Lanzafame’s book; the photos you’re showing are great, they have a very homey – rustic look – great natural light !
BTW not all italians have dark hair and drive a Vespa, but yes we do shout to each other quite a lot… it’s normal 🙂
Dario
LOL Dario! I didn’t mean to stereotype… well, maybe I did but all in good fun! 🙂 Yes the book is fantastic – I am sure you could cook many dishes from it. Alan Benson is a fine photographer.
Well, after reading this, your husband should feel pretty guilty for giving you such a hard time!
Beautiful book!
🙂
valerie
You have completely sold me on this book. The spatchcock chicken and eggplant cake are enough reason to purchase, but the risotto did me in. My husband who is american american, also wishes to be Italian and feels he is by marriage. He fell in love with chianti, cappuccino and all things Italian when we wen to Italy. He even took a year of Italian lessons.
Love a good carbonara!
This sounds like a fantastic book and recipes are soo rustic yet elevated. Now, I need to go look at it! Thanks for writing abt the book, Trissa 🙂
P.S: Your husband still asks??? :DD
oh yummy i love creamy pasta :O)
OMG this book is gorgeous, Trissa! And so is the dish you made from it. Thanks for introducing me to it.
What a wonderful sounding book, I love the look of the eggplant cake.
*kisses* HH