The book contains collective memoirs about family traditions, memories, travel stories and special Italian American memories. It is a keepsake for future generations. Also, the book shows the ways in which we remain connected to our Italian traditions and memories.

The book contains collective memoirs about family traditions, memories, travel stories and special Italian American memories. It is a keepsake for future generations. Also, the book shows the ways in which we remain connected to our Italian traditions and memories.

For the Romeo family of Cleveland, Ohio, in the 1950s, the kitchen table was the heart of the house. Not only was it the altar on which Mrs. Romeo served simple and healthy Italian food, but it had seen and heard everything. In his memoir, "Behind the Store," author Vincent Romeo narrates the stories of his life, many of which revolved around the family's kitchen table. Romeo shares his childhood experiences that centered on his relationships with his mother, father, and sister; their grocery store; and their Mount Pleasant neighborhood. The memories are at times lively and poignant and at other times painful. While remaining true to the typical Italian American experience, with his mother's food as the family's focal point, Romeo recounts his struggle to become his authentic self, despite an abusive family member. With his mother's favorite Italian recipes included, "Behind the Store" shares the stories of one man's life journey from a boy who longed for his father's love and appreciation to a man who honors his Italian American heritage.

The weight-loss icon and star of One Day at a Time traces the story of how she developed a healthy relationship with food, describing happy culinary memories shared with her Italian family while offering more than 100 culturally inspired recipes complemented by recommendations for portion control and optimal nutrition. 150,000 first printing.

Mo Rocca, host of "My Grandmother's Ravioli" says: "When life gives you lemons, make limoncello! Not My Mother's Kitchen is a funny, loving, and oh so useful manual on food, family and survival when your mom is a terrible cook." Serving up a tale that is part memoir and part cookbook, acclaimed foodie Rob Chirico shares his culinary journey after growing up with an Italian-American mother who was hopeless in the kitchen. Rob Chirico learned to cook as a defense against his mother’s awful meals. After discover-ing that there was more to real food than canned ravioli and frozen vegetables, he decided to try his hand in the kitchen. His memoir offers recipes, cooking techniques, and tips he has cultivated over decades. He blends his expert experience with an engaging and humorous narrative on growing up with suspect meals. "I was howling with laughter and shedding tears of nostalgia at the sensitive portraits of family and culture of the times." -- Linda Pelaccio, Culinary Historian and host of "A Taste of the Past" "... no mere cookbook. It is a personal story that lovingly and humorously describes the author's culinary coming of age. It is a family's history and it also is American cultural history..." -- Michael Stern, author of Roadfood, Chili Nation, American Gourmet “A heartwarming story of growing up in an Italian-American household where there was no dearth of love, but not much in the way of good food. Thrown in for good measure are plenty of recipes, cook’s tips, and historical anecdotes. It’s a keeper.” —Julia della Croce, writer, journalist, and cookbook author

Raised Italian-American remembers the history, stories, traditions, and values of growing up in an Italian neighborhood. One of my fondest memories as a child was to take a ride and view the beautiful nativity scenes that were erected throughout the neighborhood each Christmas. The popularity of these large statues, they are called presepi in Italy, started in Italy in the 17th century when it was fashionable to find them in palaces and homes of wealthy citizens. The newfound enthusiasm of erecting a presepi during Christmas may be contributed to Saint Gaetano who openly encouraged people to create the presepi as a sign of devotion. It wasn't until the later part of the 19th century that these presepi became a part of family traditions in nearly every home in Italy. This set is a beautiful piece of art and is a prized possession of the families that own them. I know that Phyllis' grandmother cherished her presepi until the day she died and the family still think fondly of their grandmother every time they see it at Christmas time.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty's writing and photography were the subject of more than one thousand reviews, of which over two hundred are collected here. From the first, reviewers loved Welty's language and disparaged her lack of plot. Their eager anticipation for the next book is rarely diminished by the shock of reading entirely different styles of writing. Her work was admired even as it challenged its readers. The reviews selected for reprinting here represent the diversity of Welty's reception and assessment. Reviews from small towns, urban centers, noted fiction writers, professional reviewers, academics, and everyday readers are included. The comments of reviewing rivals such as the New York Times and the New York Herald Tribune, Nation and New Yorker, when read side by side, reveal the nuances both of the reviewers and of the work of this important Southern writer.