Cucina & Famiglia - Any "Big Night" fans out there?

[Jeanne G]

I've been wondering about y'all BB peoples.......

Did you watch the movie "The Big Night"?! I did and LOVED it. So much so, that when I saw Stanley Tucci's family with another put out a cookbook (as IF it would be "light")based on some recipes in the movie, I ordered it off the web.

Well, sad to say, I have yet to make anything from the book. Mainly because my sole purpose of obtaining the cookbook was to make TIMPANO!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif And, after reviewing the recipe it is very involved and very meaty. Yikes! And not at all healthy, but I do plan to make it.

Any of you familiar with the movie or the cookbook Cucina & Famiglia? I would love input!! I have to order special pans to cook the Timpano in too! And the ragu actually has a combo of stewing beef (I would usually NOT eat that at all) and spareribs, WOW!

Maybe you've made it or wanted to or maybe you're Italian and can give your input! Just thought I'd see if this was of interest to any others out there!

Thanks! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Jeanne G (edited 10-10-2000).]

[LIsaP]

I loved that movie and have the soundtrack which is wonderful!

Sorry, no advice for the recipies though.

Lisa

[ML]

I have never heard of "The Big Night"- I am not sure if I should be admitting that :>!

Anyway- I love soundtracks to movies- and a cookbook that is related- Wow!!

Please tell me more about this- and I will be sure to rent the movie!!!

[LIsaP]

It is a wonderful movie about 2 Itanlian brothers who own a restaurant. The whole movie focuses around an absolutely incredible feast that they prepare.
The soundtrack is great, festive music.

I would highly recommend it!

[iqueen]

JeanneG. If you loved this movie and that cookbook you will love the magazine "La Cucina Italiana. I know I love it.

[Jeanne G]

Lisa P,
I haven't heard the soundtrack(besides during the movie http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif ) but will search for it. Thanks for the tip!

Iqueen,
I would love the scoop on your magazine! Are you Italian? Have you ever made or eaten Timpano?

ML,
You MUST rent the movie! It is about 2 Italian brothers and their dream of owning and running a wonderful Italian restaurant. Lisa P is correct in her description too. It's definitely for people who love and appreciate all of the efforts of preparing food.

The cookbook is fabulous! I sat down the other night and went through it and it really has a lot of great food. Even some simple and fairly light dishes. Check it out! I would love to know if there's anyone out there who's had Timpano or made it. Also, the cookbook has a veggie alternative to it too, which sounds good to me!

[Jeanne G]

Iqueen,
Thanks for the scoop on the website. I just visited it and it looks interesting w/ different recipes. Yummmm!!
What is YOUR favorite Italian dish to make? Do you have any suggestions for a yummy Italian fish and pasta dish? Just curious http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif You could (and maybe already have!) start a marvelous thread on your own for Italian foods!?

Veronica,
I've seen all the movies you mentioned and also especially like _Like Water for Chocolate_. Very romantic and interesting. And you said your husband fell asleep, well my boyfriend said after the movie (Big Night) that he DIDN'T like it, but after the movie he wanted to discuss it (for days) and he said he kept coming back to(thinking about) parts of the movie, he decided he DID like it. What a Goof Ball http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Veronica]

I LOVED _Big Night_. Can't say the same for my husband, though. He fell asleep while I marvelled at the feast . . . and kept waiting for Louie Prima to arrive!

Another food movie that I love is a foreign film called _Babette's Feast_. It's a wonderful, warm food-themed story.

Also, _Like Water for Chocolate_ was good, too (another foreign film). Very funny and "foodie."

If anyone has any other "food" movies they'd recommend, I'd love to hear them. Wine themes would be nice, too. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[iqueen]

JeanneG:

La Cucina Italiana is a magazine put out by the Italian Culinary Institute in New York. It is a wonderful magazine although there is nothing light about it. The website is www.italianculinary.com (http://www.italianculinary.com) . Through them I also a member of the Olive Oil of the Month Club. Yummy! I am 2nd generation Italian and love to cook, eat and drink Italian. I have not made or eaten Timpano unfortunately. I hope you have great success in making it.

Last year I spent 15 days in Tuscany and since I got back I can't get enough Italian anything. Let me know how it goes.

[Veronica]

Jeanne G,

I'll bet if my husband would've endured just a little longer, he would've liked it, too. I just couldn't believe it when I looked over and saw him snoozing. How funny that your boyfriend couldn't stop talking about the movie and later came to realize that he liked it! Too cute! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Melina]

Hi Jeanne G,
I'm a new member and was browsing when I came across your posting on "The Big Night".
It caught my eye because I liked it very much too. I'm a first-generation Italian American and learned to cook from Grandma, Mother, Father, aunts and uncles and assorted cousins. The word "Timpano" more describes the way the dish is put together and cooked rather than the ingredients. You can make many types of Timpani. Many are meatless, and some can be made with a Marinara sauce, which is also meatless. The one constant in all of them will be some sort of pasta. And for most you won't need special pans. Even when we make it domed, we just bake it in a stainless steel mixing bowl. If you could get to a library, look it up in as many Italian cookbooks as you can, and hopefully you'll be able to find different versions. Every region has it's own recipes for Timpani. Also try looking up Timballo, another dish very similar to Timpano. Good luck!
Melina

[Jeanne G]

Melina,

I was very surprised to see this one pop up again! I still haven't made it, mainly b/c of all the meat and also when I make it I want it to be for "company". Thanks for all of your input and suggestions. In the cookbook, they actually do have a vegetarian version. I would lean towards making that one first maybe? And I like knowing that I can make it in my stainless steel mixing bowls!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif Thank you!!

Jeanne

[jjf]

i have not seen this movie yet, but a friend of mine has told me several times that i would love it because i am so into food. she also said that she thought it would be fun to have a dinner party based on the movie. any ideas? like i said i haven't seen it yet, but i love theme dinners, so it could be fun - especially since you guys said the soundtrack is so good. let me know if you have any ideas. thanks

jen