Book description
Valvona & Crolla has been described as 'the Sistine chapel of
continental delis'. Founded in 1934 by the Continis' ancestors, the
Italian shop and restaurant is legendary in food circles for its
excellent food and drink. Now, co-owners Mary (author of the
bestselling Dear Francesca and co-author of the Easy Peasy
cooking series) presents 200 delicious and authentic recipes.
Organised season by season, the book offers a year of sumptuous
delights from around the country of her heritage, together with
recommendations for wines to match them.
Starting with the festive flavours of winter, such as a creamy
chestnut soup with smoked pancetta, moving on to the best of spring's
vegetables with a broad bean and spinach frittata, fresh seafood
dishes in the summer, and finishing with the truffles, olive pressings
and slow-cooked casseroles of the autumn, this beautifully written and
evocatively photographed book adds up to a food diary of personal
stories, history, anecdotes and recipes, all imbued with the warmth
and local knowledge that only a true Italian family, passionate about
food, can deliver.
Mary Contini is the granddaughter of Italian immigrants who
moved to Scotland at the beginning of the last century. She has been a
director of the Edinburgh deli, Valvona & Crolla Ltd, since 1983.
She is the author of five other books, including the bestselling
Dear Francesca - a beautiful evocation of Italian family life
and food, and the children's cookery series Easy Peasy.
Philip Contini is the grandson of the co-founder of Valvona
& Crolla. He joined the family business in 1970 and took over as
Managing Director in 1986. He has won numerous prizes and accolades
for his Italian wine list and has driven the business forward to
establish it as one of the leading independent food retailers in the
UK.
Mary and Philip live in Edinburgh with their two daughters.
