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• by:
• La Marca, Giovanna Bellia

The Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy is home to several of the world's most renowned gastronomic cities - the capital, Bologna, has given its name to the famed Bolognese sauce; from Parma comes proscuitto, the best-known pork product of Italy; Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese has been made in Parma and Reggio-Emilia for over 700 years; and, Modena has been producing unrivalled balsamic vinegar for centuries. This culinary heartland is also well-known for its delicate home-made pastas.

Chef-instructor and author Giovanna Bellia LaMarca guides readers through the wealth of local delights in Emilia-Romagna. From antipasti as simple as melon with prosciutto to lesser-known specialities like chestnut fritters, the recipes take the home chef on a journey across the region. The next stop is home-made tagliatelle noodles and a rich, hearty Bolog-nese Ragu. To end on a sweet note, try a unique dessert like Torta Ferrarese, a confection made with fresh egg noodles layered with almonds, sugar, and butter that hails from the town of Ferrara.

A section on cooking techniques teaches you the correct way to peel chestnuts, clean leeks, soak dried beans, and much more. Also included in this title are guides to the wines of the region and Italian ingredients, a resource section with speciality retailers, and a bibliography. It features a section on cooking techniques and a Glossary of Italian ingredients and list of speciality sources.