Because Italy is more than a geographic expression..

Alessi S.P.A. US

Monday, July 19, 2010

A Couple Of Kitchen Products Companies From The Motherland


Here in Canada, we have Bertazzoni distributors of Italian engineered kitchen products. Perusing around the site, it's hard not to want a Bertazzoni oven. Is it me or does the Detroit Red Wings logo look like Bertazzoni's? Bertazzoni was founded in 1882. The Red Wings, who have one of the coolest logos in pro sports along with the Chicago Blackhawks, were founded in 1926.
Just saying and digressing.

Fratelli Onofri is another company, albeit a much younger one having been established in the 1950s, reknownd for its products. Although, I don't believe they operate here.

Both specialize in free standing and built-in concepts.

As you can tell and in usual tradition, the websites are sharp looking.

A couple of notes on the images. First, the Amazon ad for Simple Italian Cookery. Apparently, it was the first Italian cookbook published in America and was not written in 1912 by one Antonia Isola but an American living in Rome named Mable Earl McGinnis. It's in the same tradition of Ada Boni's The Talisman Italian Cookbook and serves as the earliest sources of 20th century Italian cook books for a North American audience.

The actual recipes themselves while rustic can be cumbersome in their inexactitudes. If you have the beenfit of a mother who can read and interpret this "a l'occhio' (by eye), then you'll eventually get the hang of it. I don't know why publishers, for later editions, invite reputable chefs to modernize the recipes in terms of their explanations and directions without necessarily compromising the original recipes. Sorta like how modern scholars interpret and translate a great piece of historical book.

If you're a hardcore cook or chef, then you won't care and will want to have it in your library.

The oven pictured above right is a Fratelli Onofri.

4 comments:

  1. That looks to be "One Nice Oven" Plus I like Italian made products, I use Italian made cookware.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Same here! What knives do you use?

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  3. Several Global,Wosthof,Croma,is there a good pro knife you suggetion from Italy?
    I find Le Pentole Pots and Pans from Italy, beats all clad the U.S. brand!

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  4. I've been using Sanelli knives. Of course, I'm no expert but I'm no slouch in the kitchen either!

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