Set on one of the oldest and largest estates in Sicily, you’ll find Casa Vecchie, where all the food is either sustainably grown or wild. Here you’ll find the Anna Tasca Lanza Center for Sicilian Food and Culture, one of the most respected culinary sites in Europe. Now run by Anna’s daughter, Fabrizia, the school’s programming extends beyond cooking into food heritage and farming. Chefs and food professionals like Alice Waters, David Tanis, Jody Adams, and Emiko Davies return again and again to reacquaint themselves with farm-to-table Italian cooking.   Curated by Fabrizia, Coming Home to Sicily celebrates the authentic flavors of Sicily, as well as the harmonious connection between land, producer, and food. The recipes include her family’s renditions of traditional dishes, such as Frittata with Fava Beans, Eggplant Caponata, Mint and Garlic–Stuffed Swordfish, and Risotto with Green Cauliflower and Almonds, as well at-home versions of Sicily’s famous street food, such as Panelle (chickpea fritters), Casatelle (ricotta-filled turnovers), and Cannoli. Filled with photographs that capture the beauty and abundance of the land, this captivating book will be your go-to for timeless dishes from one of the world’s most beloved culinary regions.

Tucked away on an estate in the countryside south of Palermo is the Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School, a unique centre dedicated to preserving and sharing the great food culture of Sicily. The spirit of the school, now run by Fabrizia Lanza, the founder's daughter and scion of a renowned family of winemakers that goes back generations, is what makes Lanza's The Food of Sicily such a singular cookbook-not just a collection of recipes and techniques, but a vibrant and beautifully photographed profile of the land, the people, the history, and so much more. On every page, in every recipe and note, the author captures the distinct taste of Sicily. How the simplest antipasti, brightly seasoned with nothing but lemon or vinegar, open the appetite-like a classic Octopus Salad or dish of Sautéed Black Olives. The little fried somethings-like an arancine or panelle-are easy, welcome, and nourishing. The Fresh Cavatelli, Pasta with Eggplant and Tomatoes, Bucatini with Sardines and Wild Fennel, and the eye-opening Anelletti Timballo explain why Sicilians are the biggest pasta eaters in the world. Festive meat dishes-such as Lamb-Stuffed Pastry, an Easter staple, or Grilled Sausage with Bay Leaves and Onions-are festive because the moment it's holiday time, Sicilians everywhere head outside and fire up their grills. And for a people known for their passion for sweets, some famous Sicilian treats-Watermelon Pudding, Lemon Granita, Rolled Fig Cookies, and the pinnacle of desserts, the elaborate Sicilian Cake with Ricotta Cream and Marzipan. Along the way, the author delves into everything from cheese, couscous, and olives to Amaro and the importance of bitterness. Visitors to Sicily often sense it to be a place unlike anywhere else-lost in time and a little bit secretive. The Food of Sicily opens a bright window on it, celebrating this wonderful food culture while honouring everything that makes it special.

Olives are at once a mythical food--bringing to mind scenes from ancient Rome and the Bible--and an everyday food, given the ubiquity of olive oil in contemporary diets. In this succinct and engaging history, Fabrizia Lanza traces the olive's roots from antiquity, when olive oil was exalted for ritual purposes and used to anoint kings and athletes, to the sixteenth century, when Europeans brought the olive to the New World, to the present day, when, thanks to waves of immigration and the popularity of the healthy Mediterranean diet, the fruit has successfully conquered our palate. Lanza describes the role that olive trees, olives, and their oil have played in myths, legends, and literature, as well as in the everyday lives of people living throughout the Mediterranean. Also included is a global selection of recipes featuring olives and olive oil that showcase the fruit's culinary diversity. A concise appendix of popular olive varieties, organized by country, rounds out this informative account. Featuring a wealth of historical detail, useful descriptions, and delicious recipes, this book will change how you think about that bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil you reach for out of habit and swirl into the pan.