Chicago Classical Music

The Opera Lover’s Cookbook:

Menus for Elegant Entertaining

By Francine Segan
Foreword by Renee Fleming

Great music and great food make an exhilarating duet. Taking her cues from the world’s most beloved operas, food diva Francine Segan has composed a cycle of menus that are sure to have your family and friends shouting, “Brava! Bravissima!”

Each chapter of The Opera Lover’s Cookbook presents a culinary performance—an elegant five-course dinner, a brunch, a dessert party—scored to a particular operatic motif or keyed to the work of a renowned composer. Operas set in Spain—Carmen, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Don Giovanni—are the exotic backdrop for a tapas fiesta. The far-flung locales of Puccini’s La Bohème,, Tosca, and Turandot inspire an eclectic international buffet. A rustic Italian dinner is orchestrated to the strains of Verdi’s Traviata. And Gilbert and Sullivan, of course, provide the overture for an English-style pub supper. Madama Butterfly

Sumptuously illustrated with photographs of featured dishes and lavish productions mounted by New York’s Metropolitan Opera Company The Opera Lover’s Cookbook also dispenses advice on home entertaining and on setting the scene with stunning table décor. Its more than 125 recipes include appetizers and hors d’oeuvres; soup, salad, fish, and pasta courses; main dishes; sweets; and thematic aperitif, cocktail, and after-dinner drinks. The book is filled with fun trivia too. So if you’d like to learn why some arias are called aria di sorbetto and what Melba toast has to do with opera, this is the book for you!

A sampling of prepublication praise for The Opera Lover’s Cookbook:

“Like a glorious aria, The Opera Lover’s Cookbook opens up your mind, soul and palate to the art of cooking and the beauty of Italian food. Fanciful and luxurious dishes amid interludes of opera and director notes will be enough to make any opera lover sing with delight.”
-Mario Batali
Babbo, Lupa, Esca, Otto, and Casa Mono

“Nothing can improve on my favorite earthly pleasure, eating great food. Nothing short of great music, that is! Big music, bold flavor and loud voices make up the family I come from and Francine's new cookbook brings me home with every page! She has a way of making me want to sing for my supper! Francine feeds her readers well, stomach and soul.”
-Rachael Ray
Best-Selling Cookbook Author and Food Network star of 30 Minute Meals

“Francine Segan writes about food with true lyricism and wit. Her superb menus and diverting touches of opera trivia will be welcomed by those who wish to orchestrate memorable meals at home.”
-F. Paul Driscoll
Editor in Chief
OPERA NEWS

“Francine’s book, The Opera Lover’s Cookbook, mixes food and opera with an interesting, informative and historical viewpoint."
-Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Chef and Restaurateur

“Being a opera singer and loving to cook I find the recipes and dishes in The Opera Lover’s Cookbook like music for the body and soul.”
-Patricia Racette
Acclaimed American soprano, star of the world premiere of An American Tragedy

“Francine Segan's culinary imagination is vibrant. Grandopera sends it to astonishing heights.”
-Howard Kissel
Drama Critic, New York Daily News

"If Music be the food of love, play on. If Food be the music of the kitchen, cook up an opera! And Francine Segan certainly shows us how in this loving tribute to two of life's great complimentary elements: music and cuisine."
-Susan Graham
Acclaimed opera star, beloved around the world for her sumptuous mezzo soprano voice.

“Francine Segan's passion for cuisine linked with passion for the world of opera - this is an inspired ensemble of recipes to savour and to associate with operatic highlights...”
-Gerald Finley
Acclaimed Canadian baritone, leading Mozart specialist and star of the world premiere of Doctor Atomic

"Francine delves passionately into the world's rich history of music and food and shows us that when combined, they truly delight the senses, nourish the body and warm the heart."
-Daniel Boulud
Chef and Restaurateur

“Good food is nourishment for the body and the senses. Good opera is nourishment for the senses and the soul.”
-Lidia Matticchio Bastianich

Public Television host and cookbook author, restauranteur

Francine Segan is a noted culinary historian and food writer who has appeared on hundreds of national TV shows; the Food Network, Discovery, and History Channels; and NPR. She is the author of The Philosopher's Kitchen and Shakespeare's Kitchen. Segan lives in New York City.

*The perfect book for opera and music lovers

*Themed menu format makes stylish entertaining a breeze

*Includes sidebars throughout with opera trivia, quotes, lyrics and history

*Wine suggestions from renowned baritone, Gerald Finley

*Illustrated with rare photos and drawings from the Metropolitan Opera’s archives as well as original food photography

75 full-color photographs

224 pages, 9 x 10"

Hardcover with jacket

EAN 978158479536-0

US $35.00 CAN $49.00

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW WITH FRANCINE SEGAN, PLEASE CONTACT:

CLAIRE GREENSPAN
Publicity Manager (212) 519-1239

www.francinesegan.com

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