Little Italy Cookbook
PBS viewers will recognize David Ruggerio from his seriesLittle Italy with David Ruggerio, in which the gourmet chef and  owner of several fine restaurants in New York returns to his roots in  that city's famous Italian neighborhood.Little Italy Cookbookis a companion to the series, a compendium of the delectable  traditional family recipes Ruggerio grew up with. Divided into chapters  with names such as "Nonna" (grandmother), "Mulberry  Street" (the heart of New York's Little Italy), and  "Amici" (friends), Ruggerio's theme becomes clear: these  recipes are culled from real people and real places, many of whom are  immortalized in the evocative photographs that liberally punctuate the  text. Polenta with a Ragu of Wild Mushrooms, Parmesan Mashed Potatoes,  Duck with Lentils--these dishes range from the homey to the sublime,  and every one will make you feel like you've just stepped out of your  own kitchen and intoLittle Italy.