The Silver Spoon
The Silver Spoon is the most influential and
successful cookbook in Italy. Originally published in
1950, it became an instant classic. Considered to be
essential in every household, it is still one of the most
popular wedding presents today.
The Silver Spoon was conceived and published by
Domus, the design and architectural magazine
famously directed by Giò Ponti from the 1920s to the
1970s. A group of cooking experts was
commissioned to collect hundreds of traditional
recipes from the different Italian regions and make
them available for the first time to a wider audience.
In the process, they updated ingredients, quantities
and methods to suit contemporary tastes and
customs, at the same time preserving the memory of
ancient recipes for future generations. They also
included modern recipes from some of the most
famous Italian chefs, resulting in a style of cooking
that appeals to the gourmet as well as the occasional
cook.
A comprehensive and lively book, its simple and
user-friendly format makes it both accessible and a
pleasure to read. It provides an introduction to every
course, and an explanation of the main type of
ingredients. Never translated before, The Silver
Spoon has now been adapted to an international
market, with every recipe checked for suitability,
measurements converted and methods rewritten to
accommodate cultural differences, yet maintaining
the authenticity of real Italian cooking.
The new layout emphasizes its contemporary appeal
and the colour coding of each section simplifies the
process of cross-referencing ingredients and
methods. A section with original menus from the 15
most famous Italian chefs of the last 50 years has
been expanded to include original menus from Italian
celebrity chefs working outside Italy.
This is a substantial and prestigious cookbook that
will share the bookshelves with other titles such as
The Joy of Cooking and Larousse Gastronomique,
another classic of national cuisine. With over 2,000
recipes illustrated with specially commissioned
artwork and photography, the book is destined to
become a classic in the Italian cooking booklist for
the international market.