An early Mother’s Day gift
Filed under The Mommy Journals • Tagged: cooking, food, Mother's Day, Speedy
I’ve told him a thousand times I want a new tripod. But Speedy wouldn’t budge. He says a tripod is a “business expense” so I should buy a new one myself. That — despite his oft repeated pronouncement that seeing my Canon EOS 40D with a super heavy lens mounted on my decrepit tripod makes him feel like he’s getting a heart attack every time. So, it doesn’t look like I’ll get a new tripod on Mother’s Day. And I told myself: Okay, fine. Whatever.
Last Sunday, we were at A Different Bookstore in Eastwood and I was browsing the pages of a gorgeous book on Italian cooking (over 2000 wonderful, wonderful recipes!) that I didn’t dare buy because of the shocking price tag. I calculated my chances then turned to Speedy, showed the book to him and said, “Will you buy this for me for Mother’s Day?” I could almost read his thoughts, probably making some mental calculations too about the 2000 new dishes that he would be able to taste, and my gamble paid off. They say the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach but no one ever said men shouldn’t have to pay for it. He bought the book for me. Oooohhh, I love it. Love it! I’m going to have so much fun with it.
It’s called Silver Spoon and it is the first English translation of a 50-year-old cookbook that has been considered by many as the Bible of Italian cooking.
Online, I’ve read some reviews that say the translation is sloppy and that creates problems. But, for me, a cookbook is only a guide and I’ve never followed a recipe to the last dot. If you know your way around the kitchen and you already have a good background on Italian cooking, the book will work fine — as most cookbooks do for cooks who do their homework well.
See, I have this thing for Italian food — something that Alex has inherited. Next to Asian cuisine — and that’s something that Sam inherited — only Italian food does something to me that makes me crave for more. Perhaps, it’s the homey feeling that Italian food evokes. I love the stews that take hours to cook. I love kneading the crusty breads. And I love pasta with or without meat and even only with the best home made pesto.
Perhaps, it’s some kind of vicarious carry over from the Spanish colonial days. Perhaps, it was never hard for me to love Italian cooking because of the shared similarities with Spanish cuisine. Perhaps. Or perhaps not. It may also be the case that Italian food is just so darn good that very few can resist it. Italian food is earthy. Almost everything about it feels close to the soil. And the sea. The antithesis of food in highly industrialized societies. And I like that. I really do.
Oh, by the way, by the time this entry goes live, my family and I, and some friends, will be on a plane en route to somewhere that I’ll tell you about when we get back. Catch you later. If Smart EDGE service is available where we’re going, catch you sooner.
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We feast everyday!
Oh I love Italian food. That was one of the sore points I had about the Philippines the first time I came here in the early ’80s was its hideous selection. Thankfully that has been remedied. I know a place now that is authentic right down to the old Italian grandmother hahaha. But nothing beats a 3 hour lunch with seemingly endless courses on a breezy balcony overlooking the Bay of Naples — pure heaven.
where? where is there authentice italian? please please please can you share?
whoops. AUTHENTIC italian.
When I start trying out the recipes, they’ll be posted in my food blog.
wow, will watch out for your new culinary adventures on italian fodd
don’t give up yet on the tripod. once youve cooked for sir speedy, he just might change his mind
Hay Connie, I have yet to prove the adage that “the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”… There’s this guy I work closely with, who loves pasta and Indian food. I’m almost convinced that he is either clueless, scared or gay! Shocks, we might both be gay! hehehe… Wish me luck!
Sorry for the rant… I look forward to more Italian cooking from you.
Looking forward to your trying of recipes from that gorgeous book. Enjoy your family vacation!
Looks like a good book. I love Italian food, some Italian foods are easy to make with very simple ingredients. That book is a great Mother’s Day gift. Perhaps, the husband is saving the tripod as a bday gift. =)
yung chinese cookbooks ko on the way parin. pina-balik-bayad box ko kase mga gamit ko nung umuwi ako pero nung march 21 lang daw napadala.
Enjoy your new book and Italian cooking!!
Have fun on your vacation
Ciao!!
Argh, you suck! And I mean that in a LOVING, yet envious ways
. Looking forward to your creations 
I’m back! Still feeling woozy though. Will start posting photos in a while.
I love that about food, too. I love food that takes hours to cook. In the end it’s so worth it. I’m sure your entire family and friends will enjoy whatever comes out of this famous Italian book. I’m with you, next to Asian cuisine (Filipino, Japanese, Thai, and Korean), Italian is the most familiar and dear.
Love Italian food but only if I’m not having acid reflux. And for dessert, of course it’s French.