Pellegrino Artusi

Pellegrino Marcello Artusi, known as the “Father of Italian Cuisine,” came from a large family; he was the only boy of the 13 children born to Agostino (nicknamed Buratèl, or “little eel”) and Teresa Giunchi Artusi. He was born on August 4, 1820 in Forlimpopoli in the Emilia-Romagna region in the province of Forlì-Cesena. (At the time of his birth, the area was part of the Papal States).

This month’s subject was suggested by a recent television series on CNN entitled “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy.” Each episode follows Tucci in his travels across Italy to discover the secrets and delights of the country’s regional cuisines. In addition to beautiful pictures of Italian scenery, the programs present interviews with numerous chefs and food producers. It is a fascinating look at the variety of cuisines and ingredients that serve as the culinary staples of the various regions of Italy.