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Arthur Avenue winds its way through the heart of theBronx. Known to many as the "real Little Italy," the storiedArthur Avenue neighborhood has been home to a vibrantcommunity of Italian-Americans for over a hundred years.Today, this area continues to thrive as visitors and residents stopto buy a fresh, crusty loaf of bread; to enjoy a meal at Mario'sRestaurant; to dawdle for a while at Randazzo's raw bar on a warmsummer afternoon; or to hear Mike's Deli owner Michele Grecobelt out an aria from Rigoletto and spellbind his customers withtales of the Avenue's past.

Now, for the first time, the residents of Arthur Avenue inviteyou to experience the magic of their kitchens and share theflavors of their family tables. Passed down through generations,their delicious recipes are time-tested, tried, and true -- and readyfor any kitchen. They include:

• Sicilian Baked Ziti • Yankee Stadium Big Boy (The Grecofamily's famous grinder that was rated one of the best in the cityby the New York Times) • Osso Buco • Olive Ciabatta • Italian RicottaCheesecake • Cannoli • and more

The Arthur Avenue Cookbook also invites you to savor the memoriesof the neighborhood's most colorful residents, restaurateurs, andshop owners, and those of their families -- many of whom havelived in the neighborhood since it first came into being. MeetMario Borgatti, the noodle maker who has been there for morethan eighty-five years. Anthony Artuso, Sr., takes his bakerybusiness so seriously that he went seventeen years without avacation -- in part, to ensure that each bride and groom got theperfect wedding cake. And Mike Rella, president of the ArthurAvenue Retail Market, remembers learning English by workingin a butcher shop, where he's now a partner with his uncle PeterServedio.

This cookbook also provides a guide to the pastry shops, delis,restaurants, and other famous and lesser-known gems that lineArthur Avenue. Gorgeous photographs, extraordinary characters,and enticing dishes make The Arthur Avenue Cookbook an irresistibleaddition to any kitchen.