What, No Meat?

What, No Meat? Traditional Italian Cooking, The Vegetarian Way is more that just a cookbook. It is a compendium of fascinating information about food, incorporating history and folklore, stories of origin, and the evolution of food and recipe names. Food has its own history and background and is an integral part of human existence. It inhabits a world of its own, and What, No Meat? invites readers to enter this amazing world, exploring the role of food in historical events, religious rituals, and healing.

Which Roman goddess was the inspiration for tortellini? What do bay leaves have to do with the term poet laureate? What herb, mixed with ginger and cool spearmint, do Scandinavians believe cures women of frigidity? Why did Romans drink saffron before a night of debauchery and sleep on it afterwards? The stories are all here.

Read how some foods were once shunned because of fear of illness, death, or madness. Become acquainted with people throughout history, like Caterina di'Medici, Thomas Jefferson, and other kings, queens and rulers, who were directly responsible for the acceptance of many foods by the masses. How about taking a soup-eating quiz? This quiz has profiles for different psychological types based on how people eat their soup. You could be a "cautious connoisseur"or perhaps a "free-spirited enthusiast," depending on the utensil you use and whether or not you slurp. Ask yourself, "What kind of soup eater am I?" and read on.

What, No Meat? delivers over 180 recipes, some simple, some more complex. Some are quick to prepare, some are not, but all of them are delicious and bursting with the flavors and aromas of Italy. Sprinkled with a few advanced recipes that can pique the interest of more experienced cooks, they are perfect for weeknight meals and special occasions, for large families and dinner for two. The book is peppered with the author's anecdotes and some of her own personal philosophies on cooking, practical tips, and other useful information that will guarantee you the freshest, tastiest culinary results.

What, No Meat? is for Italian food lovers, whether you are a gourmet or novice cook, vegetarian or not. It is about classic Italian cuisine catered to a vegetarian crowd, accented by tales from history and mythology, and sparkling with humor.

Now available at Booklocker and Barnes & Noble.

Comments about What, No Meat?:

"A friendly and informative approach to Italian Vegetarian cooking with well-written recipes for weekday and weekend meals using readily available ingredients."

Gina Marie Miraglia Eriquez
Food Editor, Gourmet Magazine

"What, no meat? I didnt even notice. You won't miss it either as you gratefully peruse an endless number of mouthwatering recipes, such as Tomato and Mozzarella Salad or Lemon Risotto with a Thousand Herbs. There's much, much to get excited about here. Don't be surprised if the author inspires you to buy just the right fluted cake pan to make Panettone."

Loraine Page, Author of Mamma, Si Mangia? (Mama, Are We Eating?)

"In What, No Meat? Traditional Italian Cooking, the Vegetarian Way, author Roberta Roberti not only shares her Italian-American familys treasured classic recipes with the world, she has written an entertaining text around them which reveals the historical and nutritional significance of the ingredients. Her fun facts about everything from anisette to zeppoles will make for delicious dinner conversation, while her book also offers many tips for the beginner, including no-nonsense instructions about how to steer clear of food prep pitfalls and valuable recommendations about storing leftovers."

Lisa J. Curtis, Editor, GO Brooklyn