Hand the baking enthusiast in your life a new passion project with the sumptuous and creative Dolci!: American Baking with an Italian Accent by Renato Poliafito (Baked Occasions), chef-owner of Brooklyn, N.Y., bakery and cafe Ciao, Gloria.
Sun-warmed pictures of Sicilian art, architecture, and small moments mingle with exquisitely styled photos of sugar-dusted crostata and gleaming chocolate-glazed torrone bars. Old world flavors meet new world form factors in desserts like Mocha Orange Whoopie Pies, which feature luscious orange Italian buttercream sandwiched between two rich discs of coffee-chocolate cake, and the decadent, tiramisu-inspired Italian Krispie Treats. Savory bites include the crispy Mozzarella in Carrozza, a cheese-pull fan's holy grail of sandwiches. Poliafito, who is second-generation Italian American, introduces each recipe with a brief note that includes explanation, tips, or a piece of kitchen history from his Sicilian family. The recipes include ingredient weights as well as measurements for greater precision, and the experienced baker should easily understand Poliafito's concise instructions.
This joyful mingling of traditional technique and playful twists will find a warm welcome in any pastry enthusiast's kitchen. --Jaclyn Fulwood, blogger at Infinite Reads