An illustrated cookbook of Italian culinary history with over 150 authentic recipes gathered from historic menus, old diaries, ancient traditions and classic cookbooks. The recipes are tested for use in the kitchen today and include hints on using modern equipment. The recipes have been gathered from throughout Italy, and are arranged in traditional food chapters, including pasta, rice, polenta and gnocchi, fish and shellfish, pates, meat, game and poultry, desserts and breads. This book is illustrated with Italian Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces of banquets, still lifes, rustic scenes and harvest celebration. There are also historic photographs of illuminated menus and traditional kitchen scenes. Every recipe is illustrated.