El Marsam B&B Cookbook: An Umbrian Farmhouse and Its Kitchen
Kicking off the Gita Italiana 2010 is a review of my friend Ginda Simpson’s wonderful new cookbook, El Marsam B&B: An Umbrian Farmhouse and Its Kitchen.
If you’ve been around Bleeding Espresso for a while, you might remember Ginda from when I wrote about her first book, Deeply Rooted, in faith & family. Ginda’s family has roots in Calabria, but she has made her home in Umbria, where she operated the El Marsam B&B for many years and also creates gorgeous paintings (which was also featured in the previous post).
Ginda’s cookbook is full of great recipes from Artichoke Chicken to Zuppa Frantoiana (Tuscan white bean soup), but if that isn’t enough to draw you in, you will love reading the anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book that tie all the dishes together. With some snippets you’ll learn the history of a recipe or a cultural tradition, with others you’ll devour how certain foods came into Ginda’s life, and then, of course, there’s my favorite — the one about the shepherd in Calabria making pecorino as it’s been made for centuries.
Ginda’s writing style is friendly and conversational, so you’ll feel like you have a supportive guide in the kitchen with you as you work your way through 70 gorgeous recipes; if you’re like me, though, you’ll read through all the stories first and then backtrack through the recipes, re-reading the stories as you make your way through the book again. I haven’t tried any recipes yet as our kitchen slows down considerably in the summer, but I’ve already marked off the first three I’ll try: Farfalle with Speck & Rucola, Red Pepper Jam, and Cappuccino Mousse. Yum!
If you’d like to purchase Ginda’s cookbook and learn more about her art, writing, and life in the Umbrian countryside, you can do so at GindaSimpson.com.
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41 Beans of Wisdom to “El Marsam B&B Cookbook: An Umbrian Farmhouse and Its Kitchen”
Recipes
Michelle, does that mean Italian residents can not enter any of the Gita Italiana competitions?
Just this one, Cathy, because of shipping costs; and to be clear, you just need a US shipping address — so if you can convince someone in the US to accept the shipment for you, you’re still eligible 🙂
What a lovely book! I should enter into this to try to win it for my lovely friend Fae in Portland Oregon!
Best of luck to Fae 🙂
This sounds like a great cookbook. Love reading stories and background information about ingredients and recipes and learning about the culture and traditions behind them. Hope I win.
Good luck!
I’ll bet there might be some recipes that use basil in this book! Please consider me entered in the drawing. Thanks!
You might be onto something, Dianne 😉
The book looks lovely! Thanks for the chance.
My pleasure 🙂
I would love an opportunity to win this book. Thanks!
Prego!
This book sounds wonderful! And you know how I am about cookbooks – win or not, I’m going to have to add it to my collection! Thanks for doing this Michelle :o)
My pleasure, Beth!
Looking forward to this cookbook – whether or not I win.
Good luck!
I’m going back to explore the site (I knew the Arabic word…can’t believe I remember any of it), very nice. Just sent the link to a friend who went to school in Perugia a few years back. Thanks, as always, for the nice giveaway.
ciao-meow from unbelievably hot-as-Hades-DC (no jokes, the rest of you:)
Haha, OK silent jokes only then…thanks for commenting 🙂
What a lovely-looking B & B., and Ginda’s book sounds great. By the way, I enjoy the podcasts on Eye on Italy and would love to hear you talk about raising your goats. Have a restful vacation.
Thanks for listening to the podcasts? I’ll have to let the other girls know that there has been a goat request 😉
Michelle, you are the queen of give-a-ways and cookbooks are my favorite. Heading over to Ginda’s website right now. Thanks!!
Enjoy, and good luck!
This sounds like a wonderful cookbook.
Perhaps you’ll get to see for yourself soon, Joan! Thanks for commenting 🙂
I’m definitely going to look at Ginda’s last book, also – I missed that post. I’ve just gotten very interested in Umbrian cooking and I’d also like to find out more about her B&B.
Perfect timing, then! Best of luck 🙂
Anything to do with Italian cooking and food is wonderful!
I do tend to agree with that, Nicole 😉
I *heart* Umbria and would love to delve into Ginda’s slice of life & recipes!
Fingers crossed, Natalie!
“recipes from Artichoke Chicken to Zuppa Frantoiana”……need I say more?
thanks for another great book giveaway!
Best of luck!
I’m not going to try to win this book. But that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t like it. I am, you see, a complex person.
Well then I wish you luck, maybe 😉
Oh yeah. Hook it up!
Best of luck!
I was sold as soon as you mentioned cappuccino mousse! Looks like a wonderful cookbook!
Sounds divine, doesn’t it? Best of luck!
This sounds like a fabulous book – I loved all the food I ate while I was in Italy! I’m in Canada, but could get it sent to my company’s US office.
Great! Good luck!
The cover of that book with the words Tuscan White Bean Soup made my stomach growl! I love how colorful the front is!
It’s even prettier in person 🙂
Sounds divine! Would love a chance at a copy…
Good luck!
I love cookbooks that have stories attached. Many times, I’m far more interested in the story than the recipes. 😛
I’m a sucker for the stories too; best of luck!
How fun! I’d love to be entered!! Thanks..(now I have to know the story about the shepherd and the pecorino)
Best of luck!
I love cookbooks so please enter me for this.
You’re in!
Thanks for the chance! Can’t get enough Italian food 🙂
I know the feeling, Leah 😉
I liked El M. on FB-thanks for this.
Great! Good luck 🙂
Looks like a great book! Definitely enter me for the chance to win.
You’re in!
I collect cookbooks and this would be a fantastic addition to my collection!
I have to agree, Debra…good luck!
looks awesome….pumpkin risotto…yum!!!
Does sound delicious, doesn’t it?!
Awesome, book sounds incredible! 🙂 She writes & paints!!!
Ginda is quite a talented woman 🙂
Okay I’ll enter for my friend in California! She would just love it!
Good luck to your friend!
Love the cover….absolutely delicious!
Even prettier in person, Pat! Best of luck!
I neeeeeed this cookbook….my cooking back here in the states is starting to look and taste like American-Italian food…..yech….gimme da book
Love and Light,
richard
Ps or you could give me one way fare back to Napoli………..
Haha…we’ll see Richard 😉
Hola!
Check my FB account….I gave a glowing note to send everyone here and especially for El Marsam Bn B……………..
2 entries pleaze…..
richard
Grazie mille 🙂
I’d love to win this cookbook. My dream is to visit Italy!
An excellent dream to have IMHO 😉
I couldn’t find El Marsam by searching FB. So I did “like” the BE post about the cookbook. Not sure if that counts? Thanks anyway for the giveaway. I’d love to win it.
If you click on the link in the contest announcement, it will take you to El Marsam’s page 🙂 Thanks!
‘liked’ the BE post also, as I couldn’t find El Marsam B&B on FB either. Hope it counts!
Beth, did you click on El Marsam in the contest announcement box? It should take you there! Thanks 🙂
Looks like a lovely cookbook. I will be in Italy for a visit next month. Can’t wait.
Excellent, buon viaggio!
One of my last trips to Italy was to visit Assisi and Siena and what wonderful memories!
Memories of the fantastic food we ate-so if I could learn to cook like that with this cookbook……..
Food is often so central in Italian memories…thanks for coming by!
Many thanks to all of you for your kind and encouraging words about my cookbook. Congrats to the winner. Hope the rest of you will order your copy and enjoy the stories and recipes.
Buon appetito,
ginda
Thanks again for coming over and sharing your wonderful cookbook, Ginda 🙂