At the Table of La Fortezza

Entertaining expert Annette Joseph shares quintessential recipes from the charming Lunigiana region of northern Tuscany, developed at her twelfth-century fortress, La Fortezza. This is the first book on the cuisine of this important slow food area in Italy.

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Lunigiana is a rugged and untamed mountainous region of Tuscany, flanked by the Liguria coastline and Emilia Romagna, whose cuisine has been shaped by its distinctive landscape and location. Author and stylist Annette Joseph realised a dream in 2016 when she and her husband purchased and renovated a stunning medieval fortress, aptly named La Fortezza (The Fortress), in this little-known area. Enamoured by its rich food heritage, medieval food history, and long-lasting traditions, Joseph sought out authentic and traditional dishes from the best chefs, home cooks, and slow food purveyors in the region. This book showcases these rustic recipes, some of which have been enjoyed for centuries. Lunigiana s cuisine brings together the flavours of both the coast and the mountains as well as drawing inspiration from the neighbouring regions. It is home to a unique selection of ingredients, such as chestnut flour, and its specialties are often still prepared the ancient way, in a cast-iron Dutch oven known as a testo over an open fire. Lunigiana is also recognized as a UNESCO-certified slow food region, and Joseph s recipes highlight slow food practices, such as using produce from your own garden, sourcing seasonal ingredients from local producers, and preserving traditional cooking methods. Breathtaking photographs by David Loftus highlight the beauty of Lunigiana s cuisine and countryside, as well as La Fortezza s dreamy vineyard, orchards, and kitchen garden, where Joseph collected, tested, and developed her recipes. This book is an incredible culinary and visual journey into an undiscovered region in Italy and a must-have for anyone who loves Italian food and culture.