Beaneaters & Bread Soup
Portraits and recipes from Tuscany

By Lori de Mori and Jason Lowe

Publication Date: 19th October 2007
Price: £20

In the old days Tuscans were known by their fellow Italians as mangiafagioli (beaneaters) and the humble white bean was la carne dei poveri (the poor man's meat). These days of course, the mere mention of Tuscany evokes visions of abundance.

Beaneaters and Bread Soup tells the remarkable story of Tuscan cookery through visual and written portraits of some of Tuscany's most extraordinary gastronomic and food-related artisans.

Author Lori de Mori has lived in Tuscany for many years and is convinced that the genius of the place can best be understood by looking closely at the lives of some of the exceptional people who live and work there - they seem to share a kind of personal integrity, a sincere belief in the excellence of their work and a certain humility - the ability to light the wood stove, milk the ewes, coax the bees out of their hives - quietly, without pretence - day after day, year after year.

In this fascinating book, Lori de Mori and Jason Lowe feature 25 portraits of these individuals, chosen for their particular genius, passion and the excellence of their work - people like Gianluca Paoli, who arrives at his restaurant (Florence's beloved Cocco Lezzone) at 6.30 every morning to fire up its ancient wood-burning stove, beekeeper Roberto Bellini who breeds queen bees on the island of Elba and makes honey from local wildflowers; and Marco Noferi, whose organic cooperative Paterna is helping bring fagioli zolfini, Tuscany's finest white bean, back to market.

Interwoven throughout the book are 90 authentic Tuscan recipes, which reflect the essential ingredients of this unique cuisine, dishes such as Zuppe di Pane (Bread Soup) Insalata di Trippa (Tripe Salad) Fave all'Uovo (Fava Beans Artichokes, Peas and Eggs) Stacciatella (Meat Broth and Egg Soup) and Polpo con Le Patate (Octopus with Potatoes).

As well as portraits of the individuals featured, the superb photography includes images of the locations, their food and their work. It also reveals the whole of Tuscany in all seasons.

A extraordinary book revealing the soul of Tuscan cuisine - a must for all lovers of Italy's Tuscany.

About the authors

Lori de Mori is an established writer, who specialises in the food and customs of Italy. She lives in the Tuscan Hills where she bought and restored a 200 year old farmhouse. Here she writes, cooks, gardens, bakes bread and raises her family. She is married to the photographer Jason Lowe. Lori has written three books about Italian cooking: Florence (Oxmoor 2004), Savouring Tuscany (Time Life 2000), and Italy Anywhere (Viking 2000). She regularly writes for Saveur, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, and Gourmet Magazine and Gourmet Australian Traveller.

Jason Lowe is an award-winning food and travel photographer and Mercury Owner. He has two Glenfiddich awards for his food photography. He has a regular column in The Independent Magazine with Mark Hix and his work has appeared in many books and magazines worldwide.