M'tucci's Cookbook Guide

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New cookbooks are released every year and some find their way to my bookshelf. However, many of our chefs rely on favorites that have been with them for years. A few mentioned below are new to me. Hopefully, you’ll discover a new title to use in your kitchen or to give to someone you love.

John Haas, Founder/Company President:

“My favorite cookbook is Smoke & Spice by Cheryl Jamison. Growing up, my dad always cooked out of it and I've always cooked out of it. It was the original bible of BBQ and she lives here in NM. It's a classic and will never lose its relevance and significance.”

Cory Gray, Partner/Executive Chef at M’tucci’s Italian:

“One of my favorites is The Ultimate Soup Bible by Anne Sheasby. As you all know, one of my favorite things to make is soup and this was my go-to book early in my career. It still is and always will be. Also another great book is The Soul of a Chef by Michael Rulhman.”

Shawn Cronin, Partner/Company Chef:

“Two of my favorites are Salt Smoke Time and The Preservation Kitchen. Both are super cheap on Amazon and both showed what a little smoke, salt or vinegar can do to change the world. Oh, you got some herbs going bad? Here's three different ways to save them and make them taste better than they ever did.”

Aaron Trujillo, Sous Chef at M’tucci’s Italian:

“One of my favorite books is Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat. Definitely helps teach and remind me the important enhancement of flavors and textures in cooking. Everytime I open it up it inspires me.” (Nosrat also has a very good four-part series on Netflix that features each of these elements)

Justin Sandoval, Sous Chef at M’tucci’s Moderno:

“Old World Italian by Mimi Thorisson is a good one about traditional Italian food and cooking, with recipes and dishes based by region. Some you may not find anywhere else or have heard of.

Meats Illustrated: Foolproof Guide to Understanding and Cooking with Cuts of all Kinds -- This meat bible is good if you want to get into the weeds about different types, cuts and ways to prepare and to cook meat.”

Tony Gallegos, Sous Chef at M’tucci’s Bar Roma:

“I have a ton of great cookbooks at home that I love, but one that I think is great for a gift and is a must-have in every library is The Joy of Cooking. I always refer to it because it has all the essentials and is constantly updated and expanded upon.”

Ryan Seabrook, Sous Chef at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five:

“I have to agree that one of my early bibles was The Joy of Cooking. I still go back to it today and it's always been a useful tool for all types of cuisine.”

If someone you know is leaving home and getting their own place for the first time, this is the book to give to them, as my mother gifted this book to me many years ago. (the editor’s well-used and slightly fire-damaged copy is shown below.)

Amanda Cronin, General Manager at M’tucci’s Bar Roma said, “I love to introduce people to amaros this time of year.” There is no better book for that than Amaro by Brad Thomas Parsons.

A few cookbooks have been given to me by my wife, Jennifer, in the past year and I have purchased a few. It’s a great relationship: she inspires me and I love cooking for her.

Ottolenghi Simple is filled with Middle Eastern dishes from the celebrated London restaurant of Israeli-born Yotam Ottolenghi. There are many dishes with flavors that were new to me, but that I have grown to love, especially: roasted beets with yogurt and preserved lemon, and roasted eggplant with curried yogurt.

A16 is from the restaurant of the same name in San Francisco. The cookbook and the restaurant are completely focused on Southern Italian food and wine (A16 is the autostrada that runs from Naples to Puglia). I love the braised halibut with a crust of pistachios, preserved Meyer Lemon and capers. The roasted butternut squash with crispy pancetta and Calabrian chiles is a new favorite. A plus for wine lovers is a very detailed section on Southern Italian wines.

Pasta Grannies makes creating pasta at home look easy and so far, it has been. There is a YouTube channel for Pasta Grannies, too.

A Blissful Feast by Teresa Lust has recipes, but her book is more about an Italian-American chef’s discovery of her Italian family and heritage. The writing is crisp and precise and her encounters with Italians are charming.

The editor’s bookshelf

Happy Holidays and happy cooking from us.

Holiday Cookie Box - $19

Please call the restaurant closest to you.

Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting, Biscochitos, Dark Chocolate Cookies, Mini Olive Oil Loaf

New Menu Items at M’tucci’s Italian

Check out the details on the M’tucci’s Italian Menu Page. Click here

Weekend Specials

M’tucci’s Italian

Ravioli - Calabrian Chile/Ricotta Filling - Roasted Chicken, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions, Pesto Cream Sauce, Crispy Mortadella, Pecorino $25

24 oz. T-Bone - Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Grilled Lemon, Balsamic Reduction $42

Pan-Seared Barramundi - Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Grilled Artichokes, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $33

Sackett Farms Pork Belly - Pineapple Rosemary Braised, Creamy Risotto, Asparagus, Pickled Radishes, Roasted Red Pepper, Pineapple Relish, Micro Greens

Weekend Cocktail

Tessoro Rosso - El Tesoro Reposado Tequila, Fresh Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, M’tucci’s Barbera Float


M’tucci’s Moderno

24 oz. Porterhouse - Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Sautéed Broccolini, Italian Salsa Verde $43

Pan-Seared Ruby Trout - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Broccolini, Roasted Artichoke, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce, Prosciutto Powder $29

Duck Thigh & Leg Confit - Gratin Potatoes, Sautéed Spinach $24

Weekend Cocktail

Candy Cane Martini - Absolut Vanilla Vodka, Giffard Creme de Cacao, Menthe-Pastille Liqueur, Simple Syrup

M’tucci’s Twenty-Five

Pesto & Shrimp Tortelloni - Seared Shrimp, Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Pesto Cream Sauce $25

Pan-Seared Scallops - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Braised Greens, Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $41

24 oz Porterhouse - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Charred Broccolini, Creamy Horseradish Remoulade $43

Weekend Cocktail

The Nice List - Sazarac Rye Whiskey, Hennesey Cognac, Foro Amaro, Kopke 10-Year Tawny Port, Walnut bitters, Angostura Bitters

M’tucci’s Bar Roma

Sackett Farms Pork Shank - Traditional Vaccinara Braised Pork Shank, Cacio e Pepe White Bean Risotto, Caramelized Onions, Arugula, Orange Zest $29

Pan-Seared Bluenose Bass - Garlic Whipped Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Roasted Artichokes, Capers, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $35

Weekend Cocktail

Maple Rose - Elijah Craig Bourbon, Maple Simple Syrup, Orange Bitters, Angostura Bitters, Rosemary and Orange Peel garnish

Live Music for December

M’tucci’s Bar Roma - 6:30pm Wednesday & 1:00 Sunday

Every Sunday: The Dee Brown Situation

12/13 Alex Maryol

12/20 Gilbert Uribe

12/27 RJ Perez 

M’tucci’s Moderno - 6:30 Thursday & 7:30 Friday

12/8 Marty York

12/14 Shane Wallin

12/15 Matt Jones

12/21 Javier Ortega 

12/22 Cali Shaw

12/28 Rj Perez 

12/29 Shane Wallin

M’tucci’s Twenty-Five - 6:30 Thursday & 7:30 Friday 

12/8 Cali Shaw 

12/14 Rj Perez 

12/15 Gilbert Uribe 

12/21 Johnny Lloyd 

12/22 Oscar Butler 

12/28 Shane Wallin 

12/29 Matt Jones

What is in their glasses?

Something new and exciting is coming next week. Details will be in next week’s La Gazzetta.

Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!