POLPO: A Venetian Cookbook (Of Sorts)

I've had this book on my wishlist for a while and am so beyond glad that I finally purchased it! It is absolutely gorgeous! I actually purchased a copy to give to my mother during the holidays it was so beautifully done. This is a work of art from beginning to end. The binding is sewn opens to lay flat which is just gorgeous in person and really makes this volume stand out amongst my other cookbooks! And as if that unique and beautiful detail wasn't enough, there are full color images of the dishes, and they are gorgeous! Absolutely swoon worthy. The recipes themselves are mouthwatering and not too complicated, surprisingly! I think most can be easily followed by any intermediate home chef. The ingredients are accessible for the most part and not so outlandish and bougie that you'd have to make a trek to a specialty shop for them, but the combinations are ingenious. This book had everyone drooling over the holidays and is a new favorite among everyone I know! Perfect for any fan of italian cooking, as well as bibliophiles who can appreciate a well thought out, visually beautiful book. I can easily see this becoming not only a regular go-to, but also a family heirloom. Which is definitely something you don't find everyday among the masses of cookbooks published every day!

You get a 'rush!' when you open it. For the artisan home chef, POLPO is a needful-thing that screams, "Open me!". First, the book's construction and print quality are over the top. It's in the tradition of the finest bookbinder's craft. The book is constructed with lay-flat, saddle-stitched binding. Cookbooks will not typically lay flat when they are opened. That's a problem for texts that are referred to often, like a cookbook. You want those kinds of books to lay flat on your counter. Second, the recipes are spectacular and home cooking friendly. I've had my eye on POLPO since reading a chef's review some years ago. It's been on my wishlist ever since. It's a Xmas gift for the chef in my life. It's a knock-down beauty.

This cookbook is a work of art and a culinary triumph. For bibliophiles this book is beautifully bound and presented. The cover design allows the book to lie completely flat when open. The paper quality is truly beautiful. It might well be described as having an instant aged or heirloom appearance while still very fresh and new. Each recipe is accompanied with a beautiful photograph of the completed dish. The photos are gorgeous and the recipes are clearly outlined in a clearly legible font. The thoughtfulness put into the publishing of this work is exemplary. More than a cookbook it is truly a work of art. The recipes are authenticity Italian and very approachable, using for the most part common and easily accessible ingredients. There are so many recipes that I am looking forward to making. I love the innovative options for bruschetta and the no flour chocolate cake looks amazing. The drinks/cocktails section is also a nice touch. I have no hesitation in recommending this cookbook.

I bought this cookbook for my fiance for his birthday. In addition to being interested in food and cooking, he has a strong interest in design and layout because he has a background in journalism. This is a gorgeously laid out book with a unique binding and truly stunning photography and illustration. The recipes themselves are really intriguing. We have not had a chance to try any of them out yet, but my fiance already claims this as one of his favorite cookbooks (and he has many!) based solely on layout and aesthetics. The quality of the paper is superb - it has a linen-like feel and a great weight to it. The exposed/stitched binding is really lovely to look at and makes it stand out from other books on our shelf. It really has the feel of a hand-crafted or expensive item, something you pass on to your kids or hold onto for a lifetime of cooking. Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a unique and standout gift for a food-lover in your life!

I lost my hardcover edition of this book and I just bought the kindle version because I missed it so much. The subtitle of this book is "A Venetian Cookbook (Of Sorts)" is perfect because the book contains many recipes that lovers of Italian foods from other regions of Italy will recognize and love, but the many photos of Venice, along with the "Gazetteer" and list of cafes and restaurants at the book's end, will have every lover of that city pining away for it. A visit to Venice notwithstanding, this cookbook is the next best thing. The unfussy, generally easy, and wonderfully delicious recipes evoke not only the flavors of Venice, but capture the languorous atmosphere of the city as well. One thing to note, however, is that the measurements in the book are metric. In the non-digital version, it was easy to make hand-written notes next to the amounts but that is neither as easy nor as practical to do in the digital version. At least not as far as I have discovered. Many of the recipes look deceptive because they seem way too easy. That, in many ways, is the genius of this book. It is the combination of flavors and often the method of preparation instead of the number of ingredients that make these recipes shine. Among my favorites: The Cicheti will up your appetizer game like crazy. - Bacalà Mantecato - I love salt cod and this preparation of it is one that I have thrown all others over for. It's better than any brandade de morue recipe I've made (no potatoes) and it is delicious. - Tuna & Leek Crostini - Guests went crazy over this. It's not beautiful but doesn't matter once you taste it. Using good tuna in olive oil is a must. - Smoked Salmon, Horseradish and Dill Crostini - another total guest pleaser. - Anchovy & Chickpea Crostini - very good and make-ahead. The rest: - Duck, Black Olive & Tomato Ragù - my husband loves duck, so I thought I'd give this a try. Oh, oh, oh. Worth the extra steps. A company-worthy dish if ever there was one. - The Gnocchi - I can't believe I made gnocchi that was so easy and so light on the first try. Why would I ever buy it again? - Basic Tomato Sauce - this is a delicious one. Make a lot to keep on hand for itself and for other recipes. - Walnut Pesto - Oh, my, is this good. If you like bitter flavors, this is your new pesto. - Roast Potatoes & Rosemary - a little bit of additional work is required but it makes for a creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside result. So good. - Cauliflower & Fontina Gratin - A flavor combo made in heaven Pick any of the Pizzetta. They are all good and very easy to make. I'd get the book just for these. Desserts - The Blood Orange & Campari Cake made with Greek yogurt and almonds. Need I say more? Drinks - The Negronis, a spritz, a Bellini and the Elderflower Lemonade fully cover my desires in this department. I consider a good cookbook to be one that I get at least three recipes that I want to repeat over and over. This book goes far beyond that. With few exceptions, I eventually want to cook my way through every recipe, and I honestly can't say that about too many cookbooks.

I only gave this book 5 stars because 10 wasn't an option. This is the most gorgeous looking book, from its spineless finish so the book lays flat on the counter to the brilliant photography. True Mediterranean recipes that are simple and span all courses...even dessert and drinks. There are creative and challenging recipes for the uber-experienced or like me, the pseudo-chef that's game for anything! Polpo is a GIFT from Russell Norman, a gorgeous gift!

This is a spectacular book with dreamy photos, great info for anyone interested in having an authentic (rather than a touristy) experience in Venice and really evocative and delicious looking recipes. Only problem for Americans is that the ingredients are in grams, etc. as the book is from England. Sure it's not too hard to figure out the equivalents, but both would have been helpful. Lots of the recipes are assembled rather than cooked, so many can be easily figured out. The binding is unique and the paper is beautiful. It's really worth the money if the subject is up your alley.

The book was the perfect gift for a friend who has eaten at Polpo in London many times, is going to Venice soon, loves to cook and is a professional photographer. Its binding was also beautifully done. Unfortunately, the condition of the book was not pristine. The cover was marred by a scratch, the plastic wrap torn open in one spot, where some moisture got in and warped a few pages. Couldn't wait to give the gift so I accepted the condition it was in, but I would not by from this seller again