Michael Chiarello, author of the best-selling TraVigne Cookbook, explores his favourite subject - preparing delicious food for family and friends. Michael believes that great meals can be put together quickly if you stock your shelves with the right ingredients. These dishes - many of them based on the simple Italian recipes his mother used to make - are perfect for easy weekday or weekend get togethers. Starting with a chapter on stocking the pantry with storebought items like olives, anchovies, or dried mushrooms, he quickly moves on to recipes for homemade basics (flavored oils, spice and herb mixes, and sauces and salsas). The book has plenty of ideas and tips for how to use these items to create relaxed, imaginative meals that reflect his Calabrian ancestory and Wine Country roots, for both casual weeknights for family and weekend dinners with friends. Michael Chiarello has the proven ability to provide simple, delicious recipes that are accessible for both the novice and the more experienced home cook. His book will be extensively promoted through the Chiarello media "empire" which includes Michael's PBS series Season by Season, Napastyle website, line of Consorzio products, and mail order catalog - not to mention Michael's charismatic self.