While Venus fills the heart (without heart really Love, though good always, is not quite so good), Ceres presents a plate of vermicelli - For love must be sustained like flesh and blood... (from Don Juan, canto II, verse 170)

{HISTORY}

Chances are if you are a modern-day opera lover, you are already familiar with the name Fred Plotkin. He's been involved with almost every aspect of opera companies around the world, short of singing, since the 1970s. A broadcaster, journalist, and teacher too, he's also the author of several cookbooks all centered around Italian cuisine.

In 1985, he published The Authentic Pasta Book, after a five-year journey around Italy studying the country's best-loved staple from all sorts of viewpoints. Cooking in all types of dining establishments from big city restaurants to small intimate bistros throughout the country as well as many a home kitchen, Fred in this cookbook, distilled all that he learned for the American home cook. Whether readers are just starting out on their Italian culinary experience or are seasoned pros looking for traditional favorite recipes, Fred walks everyone through the art of Italian cooking and eating and even throws in some operatic stories. 

Music fans will love that there are recipes included here by Luciano Pavarotti, Renata Scotto, and Kiri Ti Kanawa not to mention a plethora of Italian fun facts and stories woven throughout about music, Italian culture, and history. Each recipe is also paired with a recommended wine and in some cases a little musical accompaniment for a truly stunning dining experience. 

We also loved this cookbook for the non-intimidating way in which Fred walks readers through the basics of homemade pasta making, rolling, and shaping which is also illustrated with drawings for easy-to-learn techniques.  All in all, this is a gorgeous cookbook on all fronts and one that was lovingly received by his audience. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1985 edition, published by Simon & Schuster

-  318 pages

- Includes original dust jacket

- Interesting recipes include Herb Sauce for Pasta, Meat filled Cannelloni, Paglia e Fieno with Smoked Salmon, Lasagna da Fornel, Large Butterflies with Stracchino and Sweet Gorgonzola, and Walnut Sauce. Tortellini alla Bolognese, Short Pasta in the Style of a Tuscan Country Woman (love that title!), Enraged Penne, Papal Fettuccine, Vermicelli Don Giovanni, and Sardinian Gnocchi.

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. The dustjacket bears some small rips along the top and bottom edge. The interior pages are very clean and bright. There are no marks, spots, splatters, or cooking stains. A previous owner's name is written in pen on the inside endpaper. The spine is tight and all pages are intact.

{SIZE}

Measures 6.25" inches (width) x 9.5" inches (length) and weighs 1.5lbs.