This is Jim Rua’s third book about his exhilarating thirty years of experience as proprietor of Albany’s celebrated Café Capriccio. In this book he describes the convivial cooking and social experiences at the Chef’s Table, an intimate setting where he has entertained guests for fifteen years. The recipes and cooking techniques included here are intended for home cooks who enjoy preparing festive dinners for family and friends. The book is organized around cooking techniques (grilling, braising, steaming, etc.,) with recipes included to feed ten or more guests.
The guiding concepts of this work, as with others in the series, include a firm commitment to traditional Italian cooking techniques and ingredients; acknowledgement of the value of life experiences and associations as they relate to our love of food and the rituals of dining; and recognition of the preeminent importance of family (Sempre Famiglia) in shaping who we are, what we love, and how we live.
Inside are some of Jim Rua’s signature dishes that will entice the contemporary palate yet each brings the flavors and satisfaction that can only come from a cook who has loved the kitchen and the people he cooks for. Jim’s easy to follow recipes will help you thrill your family and friends with spectacular special occasion dinners like: the 7 Fish Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve) dinner; Timpano di Maccheroni from the classic film “The Big Night,” butter-tender braised beef prepared as in Tuscany and Piemonte (Stracotto di Manzo), dazzling vegetable dishes and salads, and of course a selection of pasta dishes that honor the great variety of regional Italian cuisine, north, south, east and west. Tutti a tavola, tutti alla festa!!
