Nonfiction Reviews -- Publishers Weekly
10/20/2008

Big Night In: More than 100 Wonderful Recipes for Feeding Family and Friends Italian-style
Domenica Marchetti, photos by Susie Cushner. Chronicle, $24.95 paper (224p) ISBN 978-0-8118-5929-9

While the phrase “big night” usually evokes an evening out on the town, for food writer Marchetti, it's all about keeping things close to home. A celebratory spirit permeates this well-designed title, divided primarily by course and featuring Italian-style dishes geared for entertaining. While there is a selection of easy-to-prepare yet guest-worthy dishes—farm stand sauté, rosemary-rubbed butterflied leg of lamb, double carbonara—this title isn't all about casual entertaining. Carefully planned multisectioned recipes such as the pasta timballo, stuffed veal involtini with a crumbled sausage sauce, and crepe cannelloni with zucchini and cheese stuffing are time-intensive yet sure to provide a wow factor on the table. A well-versed dessert chapter includes an assortment of crostatas and granitas. (Nov.)