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CUCINA DEL SOLE A Celebration of Southern Italian Cooking by Nancy Harmon Jenkins William Morrow June 2007 Illus $29.95/hardcover ISBN: 9780060723439

Contact: Dalyn A. Miller
617-504-6869
dalyn@dalynmillerpr.com

"No-nonsense and informative." — Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

"Highly recommended." — Library Journal (starred review)

The Mezzogiorno-Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, Puglia, and Sicily-is Italy's least known and most alluring region. A lush and enigmatic landscape that is burnt by the sun, embraced by the sea, and carved by high mountain chains and steep river valleys, it is a land of undeniable culinary brilliance, where all the delicious and delightful traditions of the Mediterranean come together in the region's kitchens. From lush olive oils to exuberant wines, from robust foccacias and pizzas to delicate pastas, and with all the gorgeous of the Mediterranean vegetable garden, Italy's south is both a heartland of the healthy Mediterranean diet and a stunning source of culinary genius. Alluring and beguiling, largely untouched by tourism, the region is home to a cornucopia of Italian treats, whether rustic peasant fare or the deeply sophisticated dishes of the urban aristocracy. In CUCINA DEL SOLE (Morrow Cookbooks, $29.95, on sale 6/12/07), Nancy Harmon Jenkins-renowned for the thoughtful, engaging and original way she brings Mediterranean cuisine to life on the page-delves into the region's culinary past, present, and future to present cooks and readers alike with the cuisines of the sun. From Naples to the heel and toe of Italy's distinctive boot, and across the strait to Sicily, the acclaimed author of The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook, Flavors of Tuscany, Flavors of Puglia, and The Essential Mediterranean takes readers on a tantalizing tour of Southern Italy featuring recipes including:

• Neapolitan Crisp-Fried Ravioli
• Savory Bean Soup with Escarole
• Sicilian Pasta with Tomato and Toasted Almond Pesto
• Pugliese Layered Rice with Potatoes and Mussels
• Springtime Lamb with Tender Artichokes
• Zeppole for the Feast of St. Joseph

A passionate traveler and experienced food writer who has lived in Italy off-and-on for thirty-five years, Nancy enlivens her recipes with personal anecdotes about the local folklore and traditions of Southern Italy. Her delectable descriptions of how Southern Italians make real ricotta and mozzarella, extra-virgin olive oil, and some of Italy's finest wines, along with her capsule portraits of local cooks, fisherman, market vendors, bakers and other food producers create a panorama of Southern Italian gastronomy.

In addition to the recipes and culinary history of the Italian south, CUCINA DEL SOLE contains helpful advice on where to find some of the more elusive Southern ingredients, and how best to experience local food and customs when traveling in the region.

This is a book for food lovers at all levels of sophistication: From those who simply want an easy, delicious pasta, to those looking to create a perfect Sicilian pizza or Neapolitan Easter pastiera, to travelers planning their next trip to the Mezzogiorno, CUCINA DEL SOLE is perfetto.

Nancy Harmon Jenkins is the author of Flavors of Tuscany, Flavors of Puglia, The Essential Mediterranean, and The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook. She is a frequent contributor to numerous newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times and Food & Wine. She divides her time between the coast of Maine and Cortona, Italy.