*Giveaway update: Steph won the copy of Tavola! Thank you everyone who left comment.*
Leafing through cookbooks is one of my favorite activities. My shelves are filled with dozens of them and I usually have a few from the library on loan with ragged little slips of paper marking the pages that interest me.
I don’t only assess the recipes but also the photographs, the typesetting, the order of the recipes, the tone of voice, and generally how the book unfolds. I suppose it is a bit like a meal – all of the parts have to come together cohesively. I can tell within a minute if I like a cookbook and if it appeals to my senses.
In December, I agreed to review a cookbook for Whipped for the first time in years. I was planning an Italian feast for Christmas Eve dinner when I learned of Tavola, a book by Michael Keaveny, owner and chef of the restaurant of the same name in Charlottesville, Virginia. I was especially intrigued by the byline “10 greatest hits – music and food.”
When I received my copy of Tavola, I was surprised by how small it was but was immediately drawn to the cover photography and the soft touch of the cover juxtaposed to the crispness of the inner pages.
Open the cover, an intriguing historic black and white photo. Flip: a restrained clean cover page. Flip: a mouthwatering photo of a simple pasta dish. Flip: a heartfelt dedication. Flip: Ahh…. a unique table of contents that looks interesting and does the job. This little book is so thoughtful and well done that I feel I understand the restaurant in Charlottesville and the man behind it without ever having been there. And, I like the book so much that I am inspired to make a pilgrimage to dine in the restaurant some day.
Michael loves both food and music. He writes, “There are jokes about how I care more about the music than the food, but the vibe is why that’s so important to me. When they come up to me and say, ‘Oh my god, I love the music. I’ve heard songs here that I haven’t heard in forever,’ that’s almost better to me than ‘I love the food.’ I think it’s a really important key to our success.” I think it is also an important to key to the success of this cookbook, which is part storybook, part autobiography, and part playlist.
Each recipe is preceded by a page with a message from the author about the food and the song he has chosen to pair with it. I’ve always enjoyed the pairing of food with a non-food expression. I once created a menu inspired by a new painting. Another time, I translated a custom-built motorcycle into a recipe. Offering our senses unexpected interpretations beyond taste helps us further experience someone else’s “vibe” as Micheal calls it.
I was fortunate to receive a second copy of the book so that one of you can also own this little gem! I was also fortunate that the author agreed to entertain my interview questions. Find out how to a win a copy of Tavola below, and enjoy the interview with Michael Keaveny.
BOOK GIVEAWAY
To win, leave a comment below telling us EITHER your favorite Italian dish OR one of your favorite songs. For extra credit, to be entered twice, tell us your favorite Italian dish and what song you would pair with it! On Tuesday, January 14, I’ll randomly choose a winner and mail the winner the book.
If you don’t win, you can buy the book on Amazon here, or visit the Tavola shop and buy the book paired with other cooking goodies. An ideal gift for a food lover.
INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
On your birthday, which meal (including dessert) would you choose?
My favorite birthday dinner is rigatoni with meatballs, sausage, and braised pork – that simmers all day and makes the house smell amazing – paired with an expensive Brunello di Montalcino. For dessert, just a nice glass of cognac will do.
What are common mistakes that home chefs make that you think keeps us from making restaurant-quality food?
I think the biggest mistake home cooks make is buying inferior cooking equipment – thin pans, doll knives, cheap utensils. In order to cook well, you need the right equipment.
What is one cooking tool that you could NEVER live without?
Probably my Bluetooth speaker. When I’m in the kitchen, I like to listen to music. Also, my custom made Japanese “bunker” knife. It’s an incredibly sharp and versatile instrument.
If you could have lunch with any musician (alive or dead) who would it be?
Bruce Springsteen. I think we’d get along great. He was very much an inspiration for me growing up in the Northeast, with a strong desire to get out of the environment I was in. I also know he likes Heineken and tequila, so I think we’d have fun.
If you could have a free trip to anywhere in Italy, where would it be?
Rome. It’s such a beautiful city, and central enough so that I could base many day trips from there.
If you had to give up cheese or chocolate for the rest of your life, which would you choose?
Chocolate. As you probably got from the first question, I’m not much of a dessert guy – but I could not live without cheese!