I do love to collect cookbooks associated with my love of the food of the Mediterranean. I particularly love bar or tapas food – there is nothing better than to sit down in the afternoon with a carafe of wine or an Aperol Spritz and leisurely graze on morsels of pure delight.
Wine Bar Food by Cathy and Tony Mantuano, published by Clarkson Potter, is a must have. The tempting morsels they showcase range from Tapas in Seville, Crispy Tomato Flatbread from Naples, Rice Balls stuffed with Lamb, Spinach and Cheese from Rome, to Sangiovese-Marinated Sausage with Peppers and Onions from Florence and Crispy Parmigiano Flatbread from Milan. There are Spicy Chicken Wings with Tzatziki Sauce from Athens and Lavender Ice Cream Sandwiches on Brioche from Nice. The temptations in this book are too many to mention.
The photography by Jeff Kauck is fabulous and you feel you could reach out and take a slice, a piece, a morsel off the page. The recipes are simple and quick to prepare. Organize a late afternoon drinks party and serve up sone delights from this book – but beware, your guests may not want to leave.
Do yourself a favour, buy a copy and start on your gastronomic love of Mediterranean Bar food.
