Foods of Tuscany Reviewed by Ruth Paget
Giuliano Bugialli’s Foods of Tuscany provides several recipes that could be catered for large-scale events like the centuries’ old Siennese Palio Horse Race that draws Italian and European tourists to the small town of Sienna for a big financial impact.
The Palio Horse Race in Sienna pits riders from the city’s various quarters against each other that brings money in various ways to tiny Sienna:
-elite seating tickets
-general seating tickets
-hotels
-catering
-drivers
-security
-restaurants
-bars
-transportation to and from the event via:
-taxi
-car entals
-limousine
-car
-train
-bus
-airplane
-souvenir sales, including: sunglasses, caps, T-shirts, programs, books, postcards, greeting cards, pens, phone covers
-advertising, including billboards, radio, internet, television, movie ads, newspaper ads, posters, coupons
Bugialli provides photo essays on other cultural events that are big money makers for the Tuscany region as well:
-regata di San Ragieri – a yacht palio
-sheep milk production of pecorino cheese
Four of Bugialli’s recipes that cater well for large gatherings include:
-herbed crostini
Crostini are usually toasted slices of bread topped with homemade condiments. In this recipe, various fresh herbs are chopped together with capers and hard-boiled eggs to make a perfect outdoor appetizer that goes well with white wine or beer
-Mugello-style Puréed Bean Soup flavored with fresh herbs
-Orzo Pasta with Peas
Orzo pasta looks like rice when cooked, but is double the size.
-Pasta with Zucchini and Shrimp
Bugialli calls for homemade spaghetti here, but you could probably use dry spaghetti for a large crowd.
Foods of Tuscany contains well-written recipes, but Bugialli’s description of Italian festivals makes you think of the recipes in terms of catering for six to six thousand.
Event planners, chefs, caterers, restaurant workers, and travel agents might all enjoy and benefit from reading Giuliano Bugialli’s Foods of Tuscany
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
