A Passion for Vegetables

by Lorenza De' Medici Stucchi, Michael Newton (Photographer)

Following the success of A Passion for Fruit, the sumptuous still-life photographs of Mike Newton are once again paired with the superb recipes of renowned PBS Television cook Lorenza de'Medici in A Passion for Vegetables. Inspired by the exquisite paintings of the 17th-century Florentine artist Giovanna Garzoni, Mike Newton's color-drenched photographs bring to life the beauty and variety of garden-grown vegetables. The gentle art of the court miniaturist to the Medici is reflected in these gorgeous still lifes on sun-ripened tomatoes and eggplants and succulent pods bursting with beans. To complement these images, celebrated Italian cook Lorenza de'Medici (a direct descendant of Garzoni's patrons), offers an elegant, informative narrative and more than 100 Tuscan-inspired recipes. Using well-loved favorites, such as cabbage, potato, and leek, as well as the more unusual, like kohlrabi and celeriac, she offers delectable recipes for every course. A book to inspire cooks, art lovers, and gardeners alike.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brussels sprouts cooked in beer.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Providing historical and cultivation information of over thirty vegetables, A Passion For Vegetables by Italian author Lorenza De’Medici is a beautiful and vibrant look at the vegetables we love. Paired with brilliant photographs from Mike Newton, De’Medici takes us on a brief historical and personal journey of each vegetable and how they have worked their way into popular, everyday Italian dishes. A native of Tuscany and founder of the Badia a Coltibuono cooking school, De’Medici pairs her historical knowledge of each vegetable with about 3 – 4 simple, flavorful recipes! Before diving in to these irresistible dishes, she suggest to invest in the finest bottle of extra virgin olive oil as “inferior olive oil will [only] ruin your best efforts”, and to cook with vegetables in season when they are most flavorful. A perfect cookbook for any home, vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike will enjoy the mix of recipes, world-renowned cook Lorenza De’Medici has to offer.

[Banana Umbrella · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a cook book, it's beautifully and passionately written, providing readers the history of cultivating the vegetables, the best or earliest memories of eating them and the simplest but best ways to cook them.

As a form of book art, the photos and design are very beautiful, too.

The best cook book I have read so far.