Tuscany by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi

In 1997 restaurateur, Giancarlo Caldesi met artist, Katie. He fell in love with her painting and she with his pasta. They now sit at the helm of two restaurants, Caffé Caldesi and Caldesi in Campagna, run a busy cookery school, have authored a library of cookery books and have two sons. 

The cooking couple’s latest title, Tuscany: Simple Meals and Fabulous Feasts from Italy is a welcomed addition to my library which contains all of their cookbooks. Each month, I would buy an older title until I had them all. I tend to do that when I find an author(s) I love. Just a heads up, their next title, The Long and the Short of Pasta  will be published this Fall and is a compilation of their favorite pasta dishes from earlier titles. See our  for a look inside this upcoming release. 

Tuscany takes readers on a culinary journey through a Tuscan day. Breakfasts are thoughtful and planned out, lunch often eaten at home with family, and weekend dinners a feast. The Caldesis’ share their knowledge as if we are their students but deliver the instructions and recipes as if we were their family. The ultimate teachers, they leave nothing to chance – sharing with us tips and tricks from how to make a cartoccio, a parcel constructed of cooking paper that traps the flavors and juices of those ingredients carefully placed within, to how to store low-sugar preserves. Their culinary experience is generously shared on each page of this beautifully photographed book that captures the people, their stories and, of course, the food of Tuscany.

There is nothing pretentious or overly complicated in the way the couple cooks or teach. At its heart, this book is a celebration of food whether it be toasted bread with a tasty and well executed topping assortment to Fabrizio’s hand-rolled pasta strands. Tuscany is a glorious snapshot into the calm and relaxed Tuscan lifestyle. 

Our   presents a beautiful picture of the content of this title and features the following :

Special thanks to Hardie Grant for supplying the materials for our preview as well as for providing three copies of this book in our giveaway below.

 

The publisher is offering three copies of this book to EYB Members in the US, UK, AU and NZ. One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you try first?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are September 4th, 2018.

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122 Comments

  • Tanner14  on  July 18, 2018

    Would love to try Babbo's eggs

  • JRumi  on  July 18, 2018

    Tuscan beef, porcini and Chianti stew

  • sarahawker  on  July 18, 2018

    Chickpea pancake (Cecina)

  • Kimmaicutler  on  July 18, 2018

    Fricassee of chicken with sage & onions

  • Karen.2018  on  July 18, 2018

    I would try Puff pastry pie with cheese and ham (Pasta Valdostana)

  • rchesser  on  July 18, 2018

    Choux pastry with chicken livers, cream & lemon (Cibreo).

  • bjamison01  on  July 18, 2018

    Pollo Toscano alla Giancarlo looks amazing!

  • MiMi60  on  July 18, 2018

    Sea bass cooked in a parcel with Tuscan herbs (Sea bass with Tuscan herbs in foil) Sounds perfect for a camping trip.

  • matag  on  July 18, 2018

    Chicken meatloaf

  • debgonewest  on  July 18, 2018

    Sea bass with Tuscan herbs

  • sgump  on  July 18, 2018

    The duck ragù sounds nice!

  • demomcook  on  July 18, 2018

    Chicken meatloaf (Polpettone di pollo)

  • CharlotteBB  on  July 18, 2018

    Love Italian food (from all parts of Italy) – perhaps because I may have a smidge of Mediterranean blood, or because New Zealand is roughly the same latitude as Italy. Wonderful.

  • kmn4  on  July 19, 2018

    Saffron pannacotta

  • dbielick  on  July 19, 2018

    Turkey breast stuffed with pecorino & sage alla Livia

  • mduncan  on  July 19, 2018

    Can't wait to make the Chestnut & Potato Gnocchi!

  • riley  on  July 19, 2018

    Saffron Pannacotta

  • DonnaO  on  July 19, 2018

    Definately the saffron Panacotta

  • RNJessicaK  on  July 20, 2018

    Toasted Bread with Green Sauce & Saffron Pannacotta.

  • tennyogirl  on  July 20, 2018

    Poor man's ragu

  • ktpotat  on  July 20, 2018

    Fig and mascarpone crostini with honey

  • LaurenE  on  July 20, 2018

    Sea bass with Tuscan herbs

  • jezpurr  on  July 21, 2018

    Slow-cooked beef stew with black peppercorns (Peposo di manzo al nipozzano)!!!^_^

  • mpdeb98  on  July 21, 2018

    Apple cake with saffron custard

  • debbiehb  on  July 21, 2018

    Cheat’s spaghetti with clams (Spaghetti alle vongole con pomodoro)

  • amyz218  on  July 21, 2018

    Sea Bass cooked in a parcel with Uscan Herbs

  • Laura1  on  July 22, 2018

    chickpea pancake

  • RSW  on  July 22, 2018

    Ravioli filled with tomato & bread stuffing in a warm mozzarella cream (Ravioli ripieni con pappa al pommodoro in crema di mozzarella di Daniela Sera)

  • jifar  on  July 22, 2018

    Aniseed biscuits

  • Dannausc  on  July 22, 2018

    Chicken crackling

  • LSanders  on  July 22, 2018

    Babbo's eggs

  • jd5761  on  July 22, 2018

    Pollo Toscano alla Giancarlo for me

  • Nancith  on  July 23, 2018

    Farro, courgette, mint & walnut salad (Insalata di farro e zucchini) sounds divine.

  • Siegal  on  July 24, 2018

    I want to try poor mans ragu

  • jenlhawes  on  July 24, 2018

    fig and mascarpone crostini

  • Lmocooks  on  July 24, 2018

    Pea & tarragon soup

  • TequilaMockingbird  on  July 25, 2018

    Pici with anchovy breadcrumbs sounds delicious!

  • Julia  on  July 25, 2018

    Fricassee of chicken with sage and onions

  • luccio  on  July 25, 2018

    Ricciarelli – grain-free : )

  • Nkrieda78  on  July 25, 2018

    The Linguine with Crab and Cream sounds amazing!

  • Liz_and_Steve  on  July 25, 2018

    Coffee & ricotta shots, hmmm..

  • enalawso  on  July 25, 2018

    I can't wait to try "How to make a cartoccio." My favourite old-style italian restaurant occasionally had a seafood cartoccio on the menu, but we learned that if we asked nicely, they would in fact always make it for us. So much flavour infused and retained! I want to make it part of my own repertoire!

  • Akarbowiak  on  July 26, 2018

    Chestnut and potato gnocchi

  • BMeyer  on  July 26, 2018

    puff pastry with cheese and ham

  • lpatterson412  on  July 26, 2018

    Poor Man's Ragu!!

  • lgroom  on  July 26, 2018

    Poor man's ragu.

  • jmay42066  on  July 27, 2018

    Fricassee of chicken with sage & onions

  • Binguy  on  July 27, 2018

    I will try Antonella’s panforte (Panforte di Antonella) first.

  • SallyCristina  on  July 27, 2018

    Linguine with crab & cream (Linguine alla polpa di granchio)

  • camerashy131  on  July 28, 2018

    Sea bass cooked in a parcel with Tuscan herbs (Branzino con erbe Toscane al cartoccio)

  • thecharlah  on  July 28, 2018

    Babbo‘s eggs (Uova del babbo)

  • ravensfan  on  July 30, 2018

    Poor man’s ragù

  • Ishtar  on  July 30, 2018

    Rabbit casserole

  • Curlyfatkins  on  July 30, 2018

    Pheasant & leek risotto (Risotto di fagiano e porri)

  • Gilly83  on  August 1, 2018

    The fig and mascarpone crostini with honey sounds divine, a special pud to share with a certain special person me thinks!

  • beetangsurat  on  August 1, 2018

    Poor man’s ragù sounds wallet-friendly enough.

  • Brancica  on  August 1, 2018

    I’d love to try the pollo fricassea

  • ebs  on  August 1, 2018

    Large ravioli filled with spinach and an egg yolk

  • monasli  on  August 1, 2018

    Porcini risotto

  • amandabeck  on  August 2, 2018

    Apricot frangipane cake! perfect for summer.

  • GregH  on  August 2, 2018

    Pheasant & leek risotto (Risotto di fagiano e porri)

  • t.t  on  August 3, 2018

    Florentine cake (Schiacciata Fiorentina)

  • banba1  on  August 4, 2018

    Memmo’s beef rage…mmmm

  • lapsapchung  on  August 5, 2018

    Pheasant & leek risotto (Risotto di fagiano e porri)

  • Wojtanowski  on  August 6, 2018

    Memmo's Beef Ragu

  • ameliark  on  August 8, 2018

    Tuscan beef, porcini & Chianti stew (Spezzatino di manzo, porcini e Chianti)

  • Amdona  on  August 10, 2018

    Ricotta crostini

  • floridagld  on  August 10, 2018

    Long fresh pasta (Pasta lunga fresca)

  • lisambb  on  August 10, 2018

    Sea bass

  • myzadim3  on  August 10, 2018

    Cocoa Ravioli stuffed with gorgonzola and walnuts

  • linded  on  August 10, 2018

    So many good choices! I’d love to try some of the basics, like the chicken stock, beef bone broth, prawn brroth, and especially the chicken cracklings. Cornerstones of good cooking.

  • DarcyVaughn  on  August 10, 2018

    blackberry compote

  • Julia  on  August 10, 2018

    Aniseed biscuits

  • sequoia55  on  August 11, 2018

    Slow-cooked beef stew with black peppercorns

  • size_27  on  August 11, 2018

    Florentine pancakes (Crespelle alla Fiorentina). MMMMM pancakes please.

  • poneill  on  August 11, 2018

    Sienese almond biscuits (Ricciarelli)

  • Poppyjoey  on  August 11, 2018

    Memmo's Beef Ragu

  • PeavineBlues  on  August 11, 2018

    Chestnut gnocchi

  • tararr  on  August 11, 2018

    Fig and mascarpone crostini with honey

  • rachael_mc  on  August 11, 2018

    Sardine, borlotti & celery salad (Insalata di fagioli e sarde)

  • artthecat  on  August 11, 2018

    Soft, cheesy polenta

  • drjeff  on  August 11, 2018

    Zuppa di lenticchie

  • bohfive  on  August 11, 2018

    Chickpea pancake for me 🙂

  • v.t  on  August 12, 2018

    Babbo‘s eggs (Uova del babbo)

  • hagoesch  on  August 12, 2018

    Cartoccio, please!

  • jim.windle  on  August 13, 2018

    Pheasant and leek risotto.

  • Nancith  on  August 13, 2018

    Fig & mascarpone or ricotta crostini with honey (Crostini con fichi e mascarpone o ricotta)

  • debzfinn86  on  August 14, 2018

    Apple Cake and Saffron Custard

  • Breeze81  on  August 16, 2018

    Fig & mascarpone or ricotta crostini with honey (Crostini con fichi e mascarpone o ricotta)

  • cake17uk  on  August 18, 2018

    I'd try Giancarlo’s Tuscan chicken with rosemary & garlic (Pollo Toscano alla Giancarlo) – sounds just right for Autumn

  • EmilyR  on  August 19, 2018

    Ravioli stuffed with potato & cheese (Ravioli di mugello)

  • Wojtanowski  on  August 21, 2018

    ravioli stuffed with potato and cheese

  • kitchenclimbers  on  August 22, 2018

    poor man's ragu

  • silversand  on  August 23, 2018

    Florentine pancakes (Crespelle alla Fiorentina)

  • PaulaCheadle  on  August 26, 2018

    Apple Cake and Saffron Custard

  • Sand9  on  August 28, 2018

    Apricot & Frangipane Cake – sounds lovely x

  • SheenaBatey  on  August 28, 2018

    Saffron Pannacotta sounds absolutely delicious

  • JudeVFR400  on  August 28, 2018

    Soft, Cheesy polenta, it's coming up to stew season, and this sounds a lovely addition to a cold weather meal.

  • Welsh1  on  August 28, 2018

    Giancarlo’s Tuscan chicken with rosemary & garlic sounds lovely.

  • RuthHarwood  on  August 29, 2018

    Love the idea of the saffron pannacotta!

  • clairew137  on  August 29, 2018

    Saffron pannacotta

  • emfdvm  on  August 29, 2018

    How to cook cavolo nero #us

  • gillwill  on  August 30, 2018

    Strawberries with orange & lemon juice (Fragole in salsa di agrumi)

  • a1apple  on  August 30, 2018

    Farro, courgette, mint & walnut salad

  • skyejaden  on  August 30, 2018

    Soft, cheesy polenta

  • DJCross  on  August 30, 2018

    Chicken meatloaf and Cheesy Polenta

  • sheridarby  on  August 30, 2018

    Pollo Toscano alla Giancarlo

  • K1966  on  August 31, 2018

    Branzino con erbe Toscane al cartoccio

  • HannahLI  on  August 31, 2018

    Sea bass with Tuscan herbs sounds lovely

  • abihamm  on  August 31, 2018

    Fig & mascarpone or ricotta crostini with honey

  • minilynn3  on  August 31, 2018

    Soft Cheesey Polenta

  • camerashy131  on  August 31, 2018

    Florentine pancakes (Crespelle alla Fiorentina)

  • DimensionAEB  on  August 31, 2018

    The sea bass with tuscan herbs sounds lovely!

  • Livia  on  September 1, 2018

    It would have to be the Fresh Pasta with Memmo’s beef ragù (Ragù di Memmo) !!

  • benjamincrow  on  September 1, 2018

    Duck ragu! Yummm!!!

  • auntietina  on  September 1, 2018

    Tiziana’s stuffed aubergines

  • orchidlady01  on  September 2, 2018

    How to prepare Swiss chard

  • GillB  on  September 2, 2018

    Poor Mans Ragu

  • shellee  on  September 3, 2018

    I would try the Vegetable Stock as I'm yet to find the perfect one!

  • kkohle  on  September 3, 2018

    Duck Ragu

  • Therese  on  September 4, 2018

    Curiousity would dictate the sweet swiss chard tart

  • starzine  on  September 4, 2018

    I would like to try the Soffritto.

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