A Tavola!: Recipes and Reflections on Traditional Italian Home Cooking

As a CIA Alum, I was interested in this book because it wasnt included in my set of books during my tenure there. I gave it 4/5 starts because most of the recipes are in my CIA prochef book and some other books I have. Good book overall, nice recipes and a must for any person looking to make classic Italian food. Malto bene!

This cookbook has wonderful recipes. I have made several with excellent results every time. This book is a study and success will be measured by the skill levels of the cook. This is not some flashy coffee table cookbook for impressing friends. It is an excellent book for it's authentic recipes.I don't keep many cookbooks. This one is a keeper.

Surprisingly disappointing offering from the Culinary Institute, from whom I'd expect better. Another book like so many out there in a crowded field, full of uninteresting recipes, that most families I know wouldn't really be all that eager to see mom making for dinner. To its credit, it does have some very interesting narrative on the differences between traditional Italian cooking and its Italian-American offspring, and how that American variant appears to Italians. Food photography is a cut above, as is usual with CIA books. Aside from that, not much in my opinion to make this much of a valued reference for most people, and certainly not worth the rather high price.

I'm sure the recipes are wonderful but I can't see them. We had to buy this for school and I found it very difficult to get through. The writing is very small and the backgrounds are too dark. Can't use it, I sent it back.

A great book from the CIA, A welcome additional to my 3,000 cookbook collection. Very easy to use

This cookbook from CIA is a nice addition for someone who already has some Italian cookbooks for the popular Italian recipes. It provides delicious recipes that may be somewhat different than you're used to which is nice if you're in a cooking rut and looking for something different to spark up your next dinner. One author is from northern Italy and the other from the south which provides a well-rounded variety of recipes. The commentary on different regions, customs, and differences with "American style Italian" is also a nice addition. My wife and I enjoy cooking for a hobby and do not consider ourselves expert cooks as the reviewer with over 3,000 cookbooks, but enjoy having this one added to our much smaller, but well-used collection.