"river cafe" news and stories

If you've ever complained that your martini wasn't quite cold enough or hoped for a new bottled water alternative from a subterranean source on the island of Sardinia, than this week's International Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show had exactly what you were looking for.

The New York City show was not a gathering place for foodies. Many of the exhibitors were from the hotel and lodging industry, while others were hawking food preparation and cooking equipment intended for restaurant and hotel use.

Certainly one of the coolest (no pun intended) new products introduced was IcyDrink which its Italian manufacturers promote as the world's first automatic ice glassmaker machine. The machine churns out cone-shaped cups made of pure ice that can be hand-held or placed in a glass holder. The result is a super-chilly drink that eliminates the need for ice cubes.

Italian Two Easy is the followup cookbook to Italian Easy, a collection of recipes from the founders of the River Cafe in London. The book has 150 recipes that are simple, regional Italian favorites. Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers, the authors and owners of the Cafe, rely heavily on seasonal ingredients and don't hesitate to call for less common ones to make their dishes. These recipes are fairly authentic, and not necessarily "simple" if you're used to a 30-minute meals style of cooking, but they are time conscious. The "easy" part of the title comes with practice and the dishes are going to be easier if you have experience. Having said that, the instructions are straightforward, so if you are interested in taking a closer look at modern regional Italian cooking, or are simply a fan of the River Cafe, this book is a fine place to start.

The book is beautifully illustrated with glossy photos and the recipes range from very basic pasta dishes that use a handful of fresh ingredients to slow roasted pork and sea bass baked in sea salt. There are a range of dessert recipes to end the meal with, too.

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