When award-winning chef Reed Hearon decided to open his third restaurant in the historic North Beach section of San Francisco, he wanted to pay tribute to the cuisine of the Italian immigrants who settled there. He was immediately intrigued by a hardworking, hard-drinking barkeep named Rose Pistola who had been featured in journalist Peggy Knickerbocker’s recently published article on the great cooks, or “Old Stoves,” of North Beach. He asked Rose if he could name his new restaurant after her, to which she replied, “What’s in it for me?” Reed’s answer? A table anytime. Now tables are hard to come by at Reed’s wildly successful Rose Pistola restaurant. Hailed as “the best Italian restaurant in San Francisco” by theSan Francisco Chronicle,Rose Pistola took the country by storm, winning the 1997 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant, whileBon Appetitnamed it “One of the Year’s Best New Restaurants.” The Rose Pistola Cookbookfeatures 140 of this beloved restaurant’s best dishes, which combine Old-World Italian spirit and innovative California cuisine. Each recipe has been simplified for the home cook, emphasizing readily available ingredients and straightforward step-by-step instructions. Only the freshest seasonal fruits, vegetables, and seafood are used in ingredient-driven dishes that simply burst with flavor: Shaved Artichokes with Fava Beans and Parmesan. Roasted Beets with Ricotta Salata and Arugula. Wood-Oven Baked Goat Cheese and Roasted Pepper Pizza. Skillet-Roasted Mussels. Crisp Salmon with Fennel and Tapenade. Lamb Shanks with Peas and Potatoes. Rustic Nectarine and Berry Tart. Striking black-and-white photographs of North Beach’s farmers, fishermen, and other local residents accompany personal interviews, historical trivia, and colorful anecdotes about this exciting region. With gorgeous full-color food photographs and detailed information on techniques and ingredients,The Rose Pistola Cookbookbrings the evocative flavors of North Beach into your kitchen.
