As the Romans Do: Authentic and Reinvented Recipes for the Eternal City

Galasso, a journalist and food-tour leader in Rome and Paris, presents a culinary “lifestyle in motion” along the Eternal City’s streets, sharing her love of la dolce vita in 100 refashioned traditional Roman recipes. Helping home cooks “discover the secrets of the Roman table in all its complex simplicity” Galasso assembles dishes reflecting the vibrant Roman kitchen. Recipes are organized around a typical day of eating. For instance, breakfasts feature a chocolatey braided brioche and custard-filled cream puffs. There are lunch-on-the-run options such as an amped-up mortadella sandwich, and elaborate Sunday lunch dishes such as Roman-style semolina gnocchi with pork-rib sauce. She includes “romantic” pasta dishes such as bucatini with clams, mint, and potatoes, as well as celebratory sweets such as a sour cherry and ricotta roll cake. Galasso’s glimpses into the Roman ways of the table are shared in essays and recipe notes. Abundant fashion magazine–styled photos of Galasso and food have a retro Cinecittá vibe and unveil the lively culinary culture hidden among the “splendid and impressive chaos” of Rome. (June)