Much more than a collection of remarkable soups, Mona Talbott's "Zuppe" is also a wise and gentle tutorial on the "the beauty and delicious rewards of frugality" and how the humblest foods can be the most profoundly satisfying. In addition to 50 recipes, Talbott shares approaches and techniques that can change the way a cook thinks about economy, improvisation, and using all the flavors and nutrients inherent in each ingredient.
A Chez Panisse graduate, Talbott was chosen by Alice Waters to be Executive Chef of the innovative Rome Sustainable Food Project at the American Academy in Rome. There, while cooking for the Academy's creative community of scholars, historians, artists, archaeologists, and architects, Talbott perfected a repertoire of dishes made from local, seasonal, organic ingredients. Central to the menu are soups.
Inspired by the traditions of cucina povera, the so-called "cuisine of the poor" that has been the source of so many brilliant Italian dishes, Talbott's recipes waste nothing, employ the concept of arrangiarsi ("making do"), and skillfully transform leftovers. And, in another nod to the wisdom and economy of traditional kitchens, she also points out which soups can easily be made into one-dish meals with the addition of a single ingredient such as a poached egg, a piece of grilled toast, or even clams.
Organized seasonally, "Zuppe" also serves as a practical guide to using the bounty of farmers markets throughout the year.

Being a grazer means tasting lots of things but not committing to a single one. IPs the opposite of meal monogamy, the antithesis of boredom at the table. When you graze, you skip from dish to dish, bending the rules of convention. From shrimp with chile to unique takes on cheese and charcuterie to tiny creme brulee spoons, Lenzer gives us a guide on how to create dishes and snacks for grazing and entertaining, whether it be a dinner for two or a party for twelve. Tapping into the tapas style trend of eating, Graze is full of easy, delicious dishes, that, combined together, can make a unique meal. Cooking small bites is a way to try your hand at fun new recipes, including simple pear crisps, pizza slivers, grilled polenta cakes, scallop and plum ceviche, lavender panna cotta cups, and so much more. The book is written for home cooks eager for ideas and inspiration on how to integrate smaller dishes into their kitchen. The trend toward grazing is growing rapidly - more and more of us are interested in eating lighter meals focused on high quality, sustainable ingredients. The desire to be more conscious about consumption is integral to all of Lenzer's recipes.