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Monday, July 1, 2013

Book Review: Franny's: Simple Seasonal Italian

Franny's: Simple Seasonal Italian
Andrew Feinberg, Francine Stephens, Melissa Clark

Release Date: June 4, 2013


Book Description:
A Brooklyn favorite with a national following, Franny's is known for its simple, seasonal Southern Italian dishes and exceptional pizza. Alice Waters says it best in her foreword: "This book captures the beating heart of what makes Franny's so beautiful: its simplicity, its ability to make the ordinary surprising, and--above all--its celebration of honest everyday cooking."

Franny's is filled with recipes that are destined to become classics. Chef Andrew Feinberg plays with traditional Southern Italian cuisine and makes the dishes lighter and brighter. New favorites--including Roasted Romano Beans with Calabrese Olives, Clam Pizza, and Linguine with Meyer Lemon--sit side by side with perfect executions of timeless Italican dishes like Marinated Artichokes, Baked Sausage and Polenta, and Bucatini alla Puttanesca. Feinberg breaks down his techniques for the home cook, while offering cutting-edge food combinations, spinning the typical ingredients in unexpected directions. Teeming with irresistible full-color photographs, Franny's shows how simple preparations of quality ingredients can create food that is much more than the sum of its parts.


Amazon US | Goodreads

Review:
Egalley courtesy of Artisan via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

From the owners of the Brooklyn’s franny’s, Francine Stephens and Andrew Feinberg, with the help of food writer, NY Times food columnist, and native Brooklynite herself – Mellisa Clark, comes a cookbook filled with many simple, seasonal, Italian recipes. Similar to the mantra of their restaurant this cookbook follows into the mission of its namesake restaurant by further promoting the idea of increasing sustainability by offering various ideas for use of seasonal, locally grown food, so you too can partake in their mission.



I have to admit, I have not spent a great deal of time with this particular cookbook, but I’ve browsed through the recipes and can certainly see the appeal. Most of the recipes are very approachable. Using easy to find ingredients, and none of the fancy cooking techniques a lot of the restaurant cookbooks tend to suggest. I can see myself executing these dishes at home.

I have not heard of franny’s prior to getting this cookbook. But, through research I find that this place is well loved by its patrons and I can see why. You probably heard me say this before that it is my belief – easy dishes are often best. In fact, less is more is my personal approach. Few, simple ingredients can produce wonderful results. And Franny’s: Simple Seasonal Italian has plenty of such recipes for you to try or inspire your own creations. From Arugula Salad with Pecorino and Lemon (a 4-ingredient dish, not counting salt & pepper) to a more complicated take on an upscale tuna sandwich in Spuma di Tonno and Sal Secco Olives, some of these dishes are bound to catch your eye.

Great dishes, simple ingredients: appetizers, salads, fish, meat, pasta and pizza (that first made this restaurant famous). They even have desserts and cocktails covered. I would only note one thing, that when it comes to cookbooks, I am very visual. And, I found this cookbook lacking in photography a bit. Nevertheless, I can certainly say that if you are a fan of Italian cuisine, this cookbook is a great buy.

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