The much-anticipated follow-up to Russell Norman’s award-winning bestseller Polpo, this cookbook celebrates simple Florentine cooking and the bold, unfussy flavors of Tuscany.
“Brutto ma buono” — ugly but good — captures the spirit of Florence’s cuisine: straightforward dishes made with few, high-quality ingredients and full, honest flavor. From anchovy with cold butter and sourdough, to penne with tomato and vodka, sausages with braised lentils and mustard, and rustic desserts like three-ingredient meringue hazelnut cookies, these recipes highlight the beauty of simplicity.
Inspired by the dishes of Russell Norman’s restaurant Trattoria Brutto, the book is also a love letter to Florence, especially the bohemian Santo Spirito district. Alongside recipes, it includes stories and practical insights, making it a relaxed, everyday cookbook rooted in the spirit of Italian home cooking.
