copyright 2011, Art of Living, PrimaMedia,Inc/ Maria Liberati

Editor:  Karissa Martin

It’s summer―the time of relaxing, taking vacations and having fun. Something that might just make it even better is food. I am anticipating my travel shortly, to the Midwest for my appearances at Festa Italiana in Milwaukee Wisconsin and some TV appearances there. It is a part of the US that I have only visited a few times, and have begun researching for one of the most important parts of my travels-where to eat! If you’re traveling or native to the Midwest United States, here are a few restaurants to sniff out. So pull out your suitcases and don’t forget your knife ,forks and a napkin or two. Let me know if you have any other suggestions or favorite restaurants in this part of the US.

Less than twenty miles from Minneapolis, Min., is a lakeside city called White Bear Lake. While vacationing with the kids, Donatelli’s, a kid-friendly restaurant with homemade Italian food, may just be the place to make everyone’s Italian taste buds happy. This casual restaurant includes a traditional menu along with a carry-out “family plan” option if you want to eat in the comfort of your hotel room, including garlic bread, salad, pasta and ice cream. If you’re looking for an evening out, you may want to try the customer favorite, baked mostaccioli, featured on Guy Fieri’s Food Network Show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

Vivace Contemporary Italian Restaurant makes its home in the Old Market of Omaha, Neb. It was voted one of Omaha’s top Italian restaurants of 2011. With its rustic, yet elegant feel, Vivace, meaning “lively,” offers a broad menu including tapas, pizzas, salads, sandwiches, design your own house made pasta, meaty entrees, a kids’ menu (including a cheeseburger for those picky eaters), and a gluten-free menu. The chefs use only trans fat free oils. They have about 200 types of wines to choose from while eating in the dining area or the private party room that seats up to 32 people.

If you’re vacationing in the Windy City and looking for a variety of tastes, you may want to look up Quartino Ristorante. With its tapas style service, you can eat and drink as much or as little from the extensive food and wine menu as you choose, including over 20 types of pizzas and more than 60 wine selections. This Chicago restaurant even includes a gluten-free menu for those who need it. If you want a little privacy from the noisy common area of the restaurant for your family and friends, you can opt for the private dining area which will accommodate 10 to 250 guests.

Enjoy the city view of Cincinnati, Ohio, at Primavista, voted the city’s “Best Italian” restaurant for seven years. Dig into Chef Christopher Prince’s nightly specials or choose from their extensive menu with food from various regions of Italy, including a vegetarian and vegan menu. They have a long list of wines including red wines, white wines, sparkling and dessert wines, and special selections. Groups of 10 to 50 people can be accommodated in the private dining area which still has the same view of the city as the main dining area.

July 21-24- Festa Italiana, Milwaukee Wisconsin, The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm wil be doing on stage appearances at the Cucina Showcase throughout the event along with Nick Stellino

July 29-31 Gourmet Food & Wine Show, Bally’s Atlantic City, The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm will be doing on stage cooking demos and book signings throughout.

Get yoru copy fo the Gourmand World Cookbook Award Winner The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition..this book was selected as Best Italian cuisine book in the USA

 copyright 2009, Maria Liberati

Editor: Erin Kuhns

Dinner parties are notorious for beginning or ending in the kitchen. There is something appealing and inviting about what is perhaps the most indispensable room in the house. Kitchens invite people to experience and to get involved. Guests gather together, sip a glass of Merlot, meet new friends, and catch up with old ones. The host may put some guests to work or simply enjoy their company while she prepares the finishing touches to the meal. There is something almost mystical about the connection between the art of preparing food and the bond among friends.

A kitchen need not be fancy, newly decorated or have all of the newest gadgets in order to be filled with happy, chattering guests; it simply needs to exist. Even the tiniest kitchenettes could probably boast a time or two where the cook bumped around making dinner while visiting with her guests as they crammed themselves in the doorway.

Worldwide, kitchens draw people like a magnetic charge. Some could argue it’s the aroma of dinner wafting through the air, calling guests and hosts together; others might say it’s simply the basic charm of a kitchen. Whether an impromptu pot-luck or a formal dinner party, the kitchen tends to bring about a sense of comfort that most cannot resist. It is the place where the food is prepared; and where there is food, there is love. So it only makes sense that this is the place where friendships are forged and conversations abound.

Kitchens can hold the key to some incredible conversations. Remember: when you host your next dinner party, be sure to allow some kitchen-time in there, for doing so will virtually guarantee your guests will leave extra satisfied and content.

 For more  recipes & articles

Special events & book signings coming up:

Tuesday, June 2^nd 7 PM- Book Signing & Cooking on a Budget with The Basic Art of Italian Cooking with Celebrity Chef Maria Liberati. Recipes from her best selling book and The Basic Art of Italian Cooking School in Italy. Samples provided. Kenilworth Library, 548 Kenilworth Blvd., Kenilworth, NJ 908-276-2451

June 4th- Foster’s Gourmet Store ,Philadelphia, Pa, 399 Market St, phila, Pa 19195 215-925-0950

Call Temple Univ to register call Temple Univ continuing ed at 215-204-6946. Includes 4 course sample of authentic Italian picnic $55 www.temple.edu/tucc

June 6th- Horsham Day-Book signing and The Basic Art of Italian Cooking School demo with Celebrity Chef Maria Liberati. Deep Meadow Park 1-3 PM

June 7th-Book signing and on stage appearance-Chicago Tribune Literary Festival- Printer’s Row Chicago. Celebrity Chef-Maria Liberati will be bringing The Basic Art of Italian Cooking School to Chicago along with a book signing. The Basic Art of Italian Cooking was one of the books specially selected to be a part of this annual event. For more info email:events@marialiberati.com

June 11th- Whole Foods Market Jenkintown, summer recipes and book signing-6:15 PM

June 15th- Book signing and Cooking on A Budget with The Basic Art of Italian Cooking. Demo of how to cook on a budget with recipes from the best selling book,samples and recipes provided. Willingboro Library- 220 Willingboro Parkway, Willingboro, NJ

For info or to attend any of these events email: events@marialiberati.com