Nino Pernetti's Caffe Abbracci Cookbook: His Life Story and Travels Around the World

After a childhood of poverty, restaurateur Pernetti embarked on a career in the hospitality business that would take him all over the world, and eventually land him a hot spot on the Miami culinary scene. He and interviewer Pacheco take readers on a whirlwind tour of some of the finest hotels in the world before settling in Coral Gables, the Miami community where Pernetti's Caffe Abbracci has operated since 1988. Working his way up through the ranks in locales like Acapulco, Seoul and Kabul, Afghanistan, Pernetti soaked up as much as he could; whether he's catering an event for Oprah Winfrey or hunting crocodiles in Zambia, Pernetti is an engaging and likeable narrator, though interviewer Pacheco's leading questions slow the story's momentum. Also included are more than a hundred recipes for Italian classics like pesto, Ricotta cheesecake, Zuppa di Pesce and Veal Scaloppine, as well as more inventive fare like Oysters with Gorgonzola and Risotto with Grapes. Though some recipes are rather involved, most are within the realm of confident home cooks. Those looking for gossip or day-to-day minutiae from international hotels and restaurants will be disappointed, but Pernetti's colorful life and rich experiences make for interesting reading.