The Italian Cookbook Author:Melanie deProft Contrary to popular belief, Italy is the mother of continental European cookery. Dating back to the ancient Romans, Italy's fame in the culinary field came along before that of France. Although French cookery has taken on its own characteristics, it grew to some degree directly out of Italian. — From the Alps to Sicily, from the rice and polent... more »a-eating North to the tomato-loving South, these recipes are designed to bring a cross-section of Italian cookery right to the door of the American kitchen.« less