Cookbook giveaway – Regional Cooking of Italy

September 25, 2013 by
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Regional Tastes of Italy

We’re so pleased to be able to offer a five-book collection of Valentina Harris’ great Italian regional cookbooks, assembled in one collection as the Regional Cooking of Italy.  In the collection is The Food and Cooking of Tuscany, The Food and Cooking of Sicily and Southern Italy, The Food and Cooking of Venice and the North-East of Italy, The Food and Cooking of Rome and Naples, and The Food and Cooking of Milan and Bologna.

And we have five sets to give away. (Remember you can check  on all of our cookbook giveaways by just looking in the right-hand category column on any blog page and clicking on “Cookbook Giveaways.”)

To find out more about this book and Valentina, be sure and read our blog, Meeting Valentina Harris. 

And to win one of the cookbooks, just post a comment below answering the question:

If you could spend time learning to cook in any region of Italy, which region would you choose and what is your favorite dish from that region?

Additional rules are:

  • Please make certain you have signed in to the EYB website (you don’t have to be a paid member). This ensures that we have your email address and can get in contact with you. 
  • The giveaway will expire in 4 weeks on October 23, 2013.
  • Distribution is limited to U.K. and U.S. mail addresses.

The 5 winners, selected by random number generator, are chefdave99, monkfish, Toppermom, CarrieJohn, and jd5761.  This contest is now closed.

Category: Cookbook Giveaways

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100 Comments

  • ballen  on  September 25, 2013

    Pappa al pomodoro from Tuscany is the first thing that comes to mind!

  • JulesLP  on  September 25, 2013

    I would really like to learn more about southern Italian food, as those dishes remind me the most of my grandmother.

  • dbielick  on  September 25, 2013

    Arancini from Sicily

  • gingershelley  on  September 25, 2013

    I would choose Puglia; and learn to make my own orechietti with broccoli rabe sauce

  • [email protected]  on  September 25, 2013

    I'd like to go to Naples, birthplace of the pizza and learn how to spin the perfect pizza base

  • CarbonToe  on  September 25, 2013

    I'd like to go to Naples, birthplace of the pizza and learn how to spin the perfect pizza base

  • Toppermom  on  September 25, 2013

    Piedmont—Truffles!!!

  • [email protected]  on  September 25, 2013

    I love southern Italian food and would like to learn more about it.

  • chawkins  on  September 25, 2013

    I love osso buco which I believe is a Milanese specialty. I don't think I know enough to differentiate the various regions other than northern or southern italian in general.

  • louisedp  on  September 25, 2013

    Calabria where my dad was from and he was such a great cook!
    Stuffed zucchini blossoms…yum.

  • minerva  on  September 25, 2013

    Liguria. I went there once and was quite taken by the food. I know all about pesto, but I'm quite uninformed on the rest.

  • decklededges  on  September 25, 2013

    Venice – I had an amazing seafood risotto there that I still think about 3 years later.

  • [email protected]  on  September 25, 2013

    I grew up with the cooking of Calabria and Sicilia and whilst i would happily spend my time there, there are so many more regione to explore. Bologna has always been a favourite, and how can it not be with Bolognese and Mortadella? A few years ago I would have stated I just would have to travel to Toscana and Firenze in particular to experience un bistecca fiorentina made from a real Chianina – but having being spoiled by a Firenze native who's become a local farmer who grows the cattle and serves the authentic dish from the farm gate. So, the last experience for me would have to be to travel to Venato and try the plethora of delicacies there – sure, it was the home of Tiramisu, Maiale al Latte and Carpaccio … but I have to go to deep into the countryside to try Pastisada de cavallo.

  • [email protected]  on  September 25, 2013

    Oh, I would love to have this cookbook set! I must make my own Italian, but hope to go there someday!

  • NaomiManygoats  on  September 25, 2013

    This looks like such an amazing set of Italian cookbooks! I can't wait to try the recipes! I would love to go to Rome, and have an authentic Pizza!

  • [email protected]  on  September 25, 2013

    Something from the north! I'm Swiss-Italian and love polenta!

  • mpennington  on  September 25, 2013

    I love pizza; so would like to go to Naples.

  • [email protected]  on  September 25, 2013

    From Naples – I'd like to find a good/perfect pizza recipe

  • infotrop  on  September 25, 2013

    For my 50th birthday present, my husband gave me the gift of a week at a cooking school in Tuscany. What a dreamy present! (Also, he’s a dreamy husband.) I learned so much at Casa Ombuto, but what I would love to master is roast wild boar, a classic Tuscan dish. Of course, I’d have to figure out where to even buy wild boar…

  • madamepince  on  September 25, 2013

    Sicily — pasta con le sarde!

  • TrishaCP  on  September 25, 2013

    Definitely want to go to Rome. Gelato for me.

  • robinorig  on  September 25, 2013

    I would like to further explore the Emilia-Romagna area for food as there are fabulous pastas, balsamic vinegar, parmigiano-reggiano, amaretti, and some very interesting frizzante wines. My favorite dish from this region is tagliatelle alla bolognese – yum!

  • steph12205  on  September 25, 2013

    Naples where my family is from – gelato!

  • [email protected]  on  September 25, 2013

    I would make a gift to a friend of these intriguing looking books. , She is just returning from Venice with a group of friends that marketed, cooked and went on daily trips to nearby vineyards, gardens and restaurants. All that is Italy and the warmth of its people.

  • centraljersey  on  September 25, 2013

    Umbria because I had this amazing dish there with farro and mushrooms.

  • Sally  on  September 25, 2013

    Hard to pick one one region, but Campania-Naples and spaghetti con vongole would be top contender.

  • Julimorr  on  September 25, 2013

    Would like to learn more about northern Italian cuisine

  • kbennall  on  September 25, 2013

    The south – it's the one part I've never been to. I made some southern Italian recipes from Saveur magazine, and they were incredible. The best was a gemelli with fried anchovies, breadcrumbs, and hot peppers. It was really good, but I bet it would've been even better if it'd been exactly the way it's served in southern Italy (or better yet, if I'd eaten it there.)

  • chefdave99  on  September 25, 2013

    Tuscany, Pappardelle with Boar Ragu

  • CapeCodCook  on  September 25, 2013

    Emilia-Romagna. Tagliatelli with ragu Bolognese, among many other dishes.a

  • [email protected]  on  September 25, 2013

    I actually had the opportunity to spend a week in Tuscany in 2011 and attend the cooking school known as Toscana Mia….what a memorable trip. I lived in Chianti for a week with the family and cooked every day. The pici was my favorite (well, and drinking the neighbor's wine most days!!)

  • jaburg  on  September 25, 2013

    Naples so I could master the perfect pizza dough!

  • [email protected]  on  September 25, 2013

    I dream of visiting Emilia-Romagna, where I would love to be an apprentice to a master Parmigiano-Reggiano maker.

  • sgump  on  September 25, 2013

    Like Morizou, I would love to visit Emilia-Romagna and learn how to make Parmigiano-Reggiano (or just eat a lot of it while there!).

  • JenPDX  on  September 25, 2013

    I am easily satisfied with a warm bowl of ribolito, but what I would most like would be to apprentice in the kitchen of Fabio Picchi, the chef at Cibreo, in Florence, in his theater/dinner club.

    Or… anything with truffles.

  • BakerGirl  on  September 26, 2013

    Tuscany, to meet the Dante quoting butcher from Heat and learn the art of butchering!

  • tangaloor  on  September 26, 2013

    Potato gnocchi in the veneto!

  • hwbookworm  on  September 26, 2013

    I ate the most amazing gnocchi in a porcini mushroom sauce in Tuscany. I would love to learn how to make that from scratch!

  • Dcotter  on  September 26, 2013

    I've never been to Italy, but I would like to learn more about regions that include a lot of fish in their recipes, such as Capri.

  • jd5761  on  September 26, 2013

    Naples (for proper pizza)

  • toddschut  on  September 26, 2013

    I can't decide. Just parachute me in and I'll be happy where I land. (Love Bucatini all'Amatriciana though)

  • Cyn  on  September 26, 2013

    I would love to learn how to make Pizza from Naples.

  • Thaichile  on  September 26, 2013

    Growing up Sicilian, I would love to return to my ethnic roots. There was a wealth of vegetarian dishes that we ate before that style of eating became as prominent as it is today. Spaghetti with broccoli or cauliflower either steamed, chopped, and fried in some olive oil, mashed anchovies, garlic and pinch of crushed red pepper then tossed with the pasta and a little of the cooking water. All of that deliciousness clinging to each strand. Simple but incredible.

  • wmhinshaw  on  September 26, 2013

    Tuscany – I had a day-long cooking class in Florence a few years ago and still make the pork chops with fennel pollen and grapes that we learned how to cook.

  • CCF4  on  September 26, 2013

    Have to pick one???? I guess Tuscany and favorite dishes would be a simple chicken dish I had at a restaurant in Florence that was just amazing!

  • sir_ken_g  on  September 26, 2013

    REAL minestrone from Genoa!

  • nicolepellegrini  on  September 26, 2013

    I would choose Le Marche, as it is the region of Italy where I was born (Ancona to be precise), but I have yet to return there since I was brought to America as an infant. Even so, my American mother learned to cook many dishes of the region while living there – and pregnant with me. She has told me numerous times about going down to the beach to get huge nets full of mussels freshly caught in the morning from the fisherman, and also of the wild turkeys which made many an inexpensive meal during lean times.

    The dish I would most love to learn to cook would be Le Marche-style lasagna, like my Italian grandmother taught my mother to cook (save of course leaving out a few vital ingredients, so mother-in-law's version was always "the best".) I finally want to know her secrets…

  • Aggie92  on  September 26, 2013

    I would like to sip a nice Chianti and learn more about Tuscan cuisine.

  • melspot  on  September 26, 2013

    Val d'Aosta- traveled there a long time ago and had the best comfort food on a cool, rainy autumn day.

  • ljskop  on  September 26, 2013

    Emilia Romagna (my grandmother's region) for ravioli or raviolini en brodo (in broth). Or wild boar braised in white wine, with polenta.

  • PatriciaAnn  on  September 26, 2013

    I favor the Milan and Bologna recipes…and the first one I would try since it's Fall is Pears Poached in Red Wine…But so many in that book sound delicious.

  • [email protected]  on  September 26, 2013

    anything from Tuscany!! not familiar enough with their foods, but have always wanted to go to that region.

  • farmkat  on  September 26, 2013

    KathyJ is me – I hadn't signed in, so you didn't have my e-mail.

  • cupcakemuffin  on  September 26, 2013

    I LOVE Arancini and would love to learn how to make it properly (from Siciliy).

  • wendy51  on  September 26, 2013

    Any region in Tuscany as Montopulcian where the wine is excellent. I adore all their Bread soups and would love to learn a basic broth and to make a bread soup with beans and local vegetables.

  • kayanelson  on  September 26, 2013

    I'm not quite sure what region's food I like the best. I seem to like all types of Italian food. But Tuscany overall is my favorite region and I had a great steak florentine there.

  • JanScholl  on  September 26, 2013

    I would love the rustic dishes with fresh vegetables. No meat, just good pasta and veggies.

  • Evie  on  September 26, 2013

    Southern Italy is my fav

  • amyrinco  on  September 26, 2013

    I still dream about the pizza in Naples…

  • Diabolical_DrZ  on  September 27, 2013

    Emilia-Romagna, Parma particularly, ther's a pumpkin stuffed pasta I had there that I would love to make.

  • louie734  on  September 27, 2013

    Oh gosh, I don't know enough about Italy's regions to decide… We do love our pizza though, so my uninformed decision is Naples.

  • RobinCR  on  September 27, 2013

    I hate to say it but I don't know much about the different cooking styles from one region to another. Would love to learn about them through this wonderful set of cookbooks.

  • JamieK  on  September 27, 2013

    Emilia-Romagna. Any pasta with a good Bolognese sauce. Also love mortadella

  • bshyman  on  September 27, 2013

    I'd choose the food of Milan, because I know less about it. I'd start with perfecting Risotto Milanese.

  • rivergait  on  September 27, 2013

    Italy is a lot like California, where I live. It has many regions, each quite different in climate and topography. Actually, I live in far Northern CA amongst oaks and golden pastures, raising olives, which is exactly like the agro-tourismo I stayed at in Tuscany. I'd like to try all the different regional cooking of a place so much like my home state.

  • FuzzyChef  on  September 28, 2013

    Calabria and the South, I think. Mostly because that's the cooking of Italy I'm least familiar with, so I'd like to learn it.

    To pick a favorite … I had a delicious pasta in saffron-cheese sauce at Il Boom restaraurant in Rome (a Calabrian restaurant). I also love Vecchio Amaro il Capo.

  • JoyceMcC  on  September 28, 2013

    Me, well I would love to go back to Lombardy or Piedmont the home of the risotto. They are the dishes of my children's childhood. Every Friday lunchtime we would sit down to a risotto which would reflect the changing seasons and what was freshest at the local market. Just to taste the aroma of the buttery rice, soaking up the stock and wine. Mama Mia! It transports me from a dismal day in shetland to a sun and laughter filled house near the shores of Lago di Maggiore, take me back please these books are like nuggets of italian sunshine.

  • hihelen_westbrook  on  September 28, 2013

    Mmmmmm, it would have to be cannoli in Sicily.

  • pgarcia  on  September 28, 2013

    I would like to start with pizza from Naples!

  • Queezle_Sister  on  September 28, 2013

    I think I would try food of northern Italy, and in particular, Milan. I've always wanted to try Risotto alla milanese, with ox marrow and saffron – how could it be a miss?

  • slowens  on  September 28, 2013

    Sicily….Pasta con Sarde

  • carlenedrake  on  September 28, 2013

    Tuscany–Pappa al Pomodoro

  • monkfish  on  September 28, 2013

    Sicily!!!…North African influences and amazing use of breadcrumbs!

  • amc  on  September 29, 2013

    northern Italy. Risotto

  • Potterhill  on  September 29, 2013

    Anywhere in Italy is wonderful. I have been in Rome for a day, spent more time in Tuscany, a couple days in Venice. Love Risotto and bolognese sauce, buffalo mozzarella. Osso buco. Gnocchi. My family loves pizza.

  • SBeatty  on  September 29, 2013

    I just got back from Italy, and loved the food there. I'm gluten-sensitive and found a LOT to love. My favorite dish was roasted guinea hen in a truffle sauce with porcini mushrooms. Unbelievable! But I'd love a private tutorial on risotto. There are so many ways to jazz it up. I'd go back to Montefollonico in Tuscany in a NY minute.

  • merstar  on  September 29, 2013

    Not sure which region – but would like to make lots of gelato recipes.

  • BlytheSpirit  on  September 29, 2013

    pizza from Naples

  • ShoreGirl  on  September 30, 2013

    My favorite is from Tuscany. Zuppa di Muscoli. Mussel soup.

  • ljkaufm  on  September 30, 2013

    Fried baby artichokes from Rome

  • ChristyMcMahon  on  September 30, 2013

    Emilia-Romagna for their pastas and Parmigiano-Reggiano!!

  • napier  on  October 1, 2013

    Sicily -love the blending of flavours from history. Favourite dish-caponata-such a great balance of flavours

  • wendybazil  on  October 1, 2013

    So hard to choose! I don't think I could tire of the cooking of any of the regions. I think that I would like to explore the cooking of Milan and Bologna in more detail. Currently, I love to make Ragu Bolognese.

  • veronicafrance  on  October 1, 2013

    I love Northern Italian food — especially the simple pasta dishes with vegetables, for example tagliatelle with artichokes. But then there's pappa di pomodoro from Tuscany too … mmm!

  • ae.bell  on  October 2, 2013

    Tuscany! I lived there in college and if I could, I'd have my host mother teacher me her basic tomato sauce because it was heavenly

  • cheapbeets  on  October 4, 2013

    I became a pizza addict during my pregnancy last year, so Naples all the way.

  • CarrieJohn  on  October 6, 2013

    Altamura in Puglia so I could learn to make their fantastic bread.

  • Moniquelfp  on  October 8, 2013

    Southern Italian
    favorite dish – Pasta Puttanesca

  • Smuz90  on  October 11, 2013

    As i grew up in northern Italy I would love to experience real southern flavours!

  • stargirl  on  October 14, 2013

    A great bolognese sauce from the NW region!

  • vinochic  on  October 15, 2013

    Piemonte, but mainly because I would LOVE to visit the great producers of Barolo! And I would love to learn how to make the perfect bagna cauda.

  • maisie_grn  on  October 22, 2013

    I would love to know how to cook seafood in the styles from the Amalfi Coast!

  • Kerrey  on  October 23, 2013

    Naples, where my grandmother was born, and where pizza reigns?

  • Chiara  on  October 23, 2013

    Tuscany or Umbria and to learn how to make homemade tortellini in brodo as well as my 105-year-old nonna (going on 106!) who makes them every Christmas and they are worth the annual wait…

  • pipinita21  on  October 23, 2013

    Tuscany, I love that part of Italy. Pappardelle with wild boar, mmmm!

  • Susan_F  on  October 23, 2013

    I'd love to try making a traditional sponge cake from Tuscany using the sweet fragola grapes. And preferably I'd like to make it in Tuscany!

  • canines5  on  October 23, 2013

    Northern Italy – Bolognese Ragu, especially with Lamb over Pappardelle with a glass of red wine.

  • pokarekare  on  October 28, 2013

    Oh wha ta nas siam! I have spent the last 2 months touring France and Italy and I would have LOVED to win this set!!! I'll have to keep my eyes open next time! Did a cooking class in Florence and made beautiful handmade pasta and tiramasu, but the cuisine I liked best was Tuscan, and I would love to learn to make proper gelato.

  • lynnpaik  on  October 31, 2013

    Emilia-Romagna. I still dream about a checchi dish with creamy tomato sauce from a simple, family-run osteria near Parma that we happened upon on a nebbia (fog)-filled night.

  • Jane  on  November 4, 2013

    Apologies for the delay in posting the winners of this contest. The 5 winners, selected by random number generator, are chefdave99, monkfish, Toppermom, CarrieJohn, and jd5761. This contest is now closed.

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