A New Celebratory Cookbook, tavola: 10 Greatest Hits—Music and Food

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the opening of his restaurant tavola (yes, “tavola” with a lowercase “t”), Chef Michael Keaveny has written a book sharing his most popular recipes along with his music and wine selections to accompany them. The book, “tavola: 10 Greatest Hits—Music and Food,” is a fascinating glimpse into the workings of a successful restaurant and the people who make it happen.

* Complimentary book received for review. This post may contain affiliate links.

In keeping with the tenth anniversary theme, 10 recipes are featured in “tavola,” each preceded by the story of its creation, with a sidebar called Tasting Notes describing a companion song. Some include a suggested wine pairing, as well. All 10 recipes are favorites of the restaurant’s customers.

Without further ado, let me present the “10 greatest hits” from the book:

• Cozze ai ferri (skillet-roasted mussels, garlic butter, parsley, baguette)
• Burrata antipasto (buffalo milk cheese, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes)
• Capellini gamberi Raucci (sautéed shrimp, tomatoes, capers, white wine, lemon, garlic, gorgonzola fonduta)
• Linguine alla carbonara (fresh pasta, sausage, pancetta, egg, onion, pecorino Romano)
• Pappardelle alla ragu (fresh pasta with braised pork, red wine, San Marzano tomatoes)
• Melanzane alla Parmigiana (breaded eggplant, San Marzano tomatoes, ricotta, fresh mozzarella, basil)
• Capesante ai ferri (pan-roasted sea scallops, beet-leek risotto, white truffle oil)
• Pesce spada alla griglia (grilled swordfish, tomato-olive relish, roasted fennel, aged balsamic)
• Petto d’anatra con polenta (pan-roasted duck breast over polenta with cherry agrodolce and pink peppercorns)
• Cotoletta di maiale alla Milanese (pork, sautéed baby arugula, heirloom tomatoes, capers, Meyer lemon)

In addition to the top 10, Keaveny also includes the recipe for a cocktail from the restaurant’s cicchetti bar, as well as several recipes for staples like marinara sauce and fresh pasta. Just as many fine meals end with dessert, “tavola” ends with the recipe for a particularly luscious-sounding Tiramisu.

In the book’s introduction, Keaveny writes, “We opened tavola on July 16, 2009…with one goal in mind: Provide a warm, friendly experience, with minimal technology or pretension, because human connection is what really matters.” From what I’ve read in “tavola: 10 Greatest Hits—Music and Food,” Keaveny’s artful melding of food, music, drinks, and ambiance has combined to make his goal a reality, which we can all share through his book.

If I am ever in Charlottesville, Virginia, I am going to have dinner at tavola, and I am going to order the Melanzane alla Parmigiana, Keaveny’s version of eggplant Parmesan. Alternatively, I can seek out the necessary ingredients and make it myself in my own kitchen, perhaps even while listening to Nick Lowe’s “Til the Real Thing Comes Along,” the Tasting Notes song suggestion for this recipe.

This book would make a lovely gift for the Italian cook on your list. If they live near or are traveling to Charlottesville, you could even combine it with a gift certificate to tavola restaurant, available at their website. For more information, visit tavola on Facebook. You can purchase the tavola cookbook HERE.

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Giveaway: One lucky winner is going to win the tavola cookbook by Chef Michael Keaveny. Good Luck!

Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the US ONLY age 18 and over. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering. This giveaway will close on December 20th, 2019 at 11:59 pm EST time. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Disclaimer: A. Bailey received a complimentary product for review purposes & feature on The Classy Chics blog. No monetary compensation was received. A. Bailey’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts may differ. Please read the blog’s terms of service policy before entering any giveaways. The Classy Chics are NOT responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping of any items won from this blog. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, we may or may not make a small commission which helps to support this website. Thank you!!!