Beginning at the age of 7, working in a bakery in his village on the isle of Capri, Apuzzo has amassed a lifetime of cooking wisdom. Though his first two successful cookbooks - La Cucina di Andrea's and Andrea's Light - centered on recipes developed as a restaurant chef, this book takes us into Andrea's home kitchen. It's the kind of food that, if you are lucky, your Mama and especially your Grandma used to make. Gone are the highly stylized and unforgiving "mother sauces" of classical European restaurant cuisine, replaced deliciously here by direct approaches to direct flavors, including glorious soups, stews and braised meats that are the true hallmark of authentic Italian cooking. Getting special emphasis, naturally, are the freshest of seafoods that daily inspire this popular chef, born on an island in the Mediterranean and embraced by seafood-crazed New Orleans on the Gulf of Mexico. In this task of home cooking, Apuzzo was joined for every chop, sprinkle and stir by veteran author and food editor John DeMers, a New Orleans native whose 31 published books have taught him much about how the foods of his hometown fit into the broadest visions of global cuisine. DeMers spent three seasons researching, translating and polishing Italian recipes for the PBS cooking series Cucina, an effort that produced a companion cookbook each year. Adding luscious imagery to this wonderful recipe collection is award-winning photographer, Kerri McCaffety. McCaffety has photographed ten books, five of which she also wrote. While documenting the city's culinary and cocktail history, she has been called "stunningly skilled," "a photographic genius," and "the reigning Queen of New Orleans color photography." A gold-medal winner of the coveted Lowell Thomas award, her works have been deemed "pillars of Louisiana's cultural record."
Andrea Apuzzo came to New Orleans in 1977 as executive chef of the Royal Orleans hotel. After opening his own restaurant, he quickly became famous for his classic Italian dishes with a New Orleans twist.
Kerri McCaffety counts among her accolades a Gold Lowell Thomas Award from the Society of American Travel Writers and an Author of the Year award from the New Orleans Gulf South Booksellers Association. Her books with Pelican include Obituary Cocktail: The Great Saloons of New Orleans; The Majesty of St. Charles Avenue; Etouffée, Mon Amour: The Great Restaurants of New Orleans; Napoleon House; St. Joseph Altars; The Majesty of the French Quarter; Visions of the Vieux Carré; The Majesty of St. Francisville; and Let's Walk the French Quarter.
John DeMers learned long ago that the food of his hometown fits into the world of global cuisine. He is an experienced author, journalist, and food editor.
