The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken

Italian Cuisine

This review was prepared by Elaine of The Italian Dish.
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When I was asked to review Laura Schenone's The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken: A Search for Food and Family, I was excited because I had seen the book before and I have quite an interest in making ravioli. What I didn’t realize, however, was that this was not really a cookbook – it is a memoir with recipes. So not only did I have a lot more reading ahead of me, I was much more engrossed in it than if I had been reading an ordinary cookbook.

Laura is a food writer living in Hoboken, New Jersey who longs for an authentic family recipe and becomes a little obsessed in her search for the origins of the family ravioli recipe. The ravioli was originally made by her Italian great grandmother, who immigrated to New Jersey from Italy. Her quest for this recipe leads her to long lost cousins and aunts across the country who finally send her the original ravioli recipe.

When she receives the original recipe, however, it contains a surprising ingredient – Philadelphia Cream Cheese! Laura is stumped by this – why on earth would her Italian ancestor make her ravioli with this very American ingredient? The recipe also contains ground veal and ground pork, but they are left raw in the assembly of the ravioli. She had never heard of leaving the meat raw in ravioli. She even consults Marcella Hazan and Giuliano Bugialli for answers. They are just as mystified. Her curiosity consumes her and in her search for the answers, she travels to Liguria, from where her great grandparents immigrated and learns ravioli making from all sorts of people.

She realizes the absurdity of her quest to find the authentic recipe when she finds herself interviewing Sergio Rossi, director of the Genoa chapter of the organization devoted to conserving the culture and foods of the Mediterranean. He is a little confused about her search for such an authentic recipe and tells her, “There is no one taste,” he says. “Each village has its own way. Each family has its own way. Things vary even within a family. I can share with you my tradition, but not the tradition.” And there lies the great lesson of the book – there is no one way to make something.

I was totally absorbed in this book. Laura Schenone was surprisingly candid and very open about family squabbles, marital tensions and even her sister Andrea’s touching struggle with a lifelong, painful physical ailment. Throughout the book we meet interesting characters – Italian nonnas, artisans and her cooking friend and neighbor, Lou, who tries to convince Laura of the merits of the KitchenAid mixer in pasta making.

The back of the book contains all of the recipes, which makes it easier to reference them. Laura has included recipes for several ravioli, including her family’s traditional “cream cheese” ravioli, a “beginner’s cheese” ravioli and a wonderful mushroom ravioli. She also includes recipes and tips for general pasta making and some sauces, such as the walnut sauce I made and pesto. There are also the family’s spinach torta, a chard torta and focaccia recipes.

Besides making the easy but delicious walnut sauce, I made the family’s traditional cream cheese ravioli. I was anxious to know what the cream cheese would be like in the filling. This recipe calls for the raw meat, of course, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that so I did cook it and then put it through my meat grinder so it would be very fine, which is important when making a filling for ravioli. Otherwise, I made the recipe exactly from the book and it was delicious. I loved the tanginess of the cream cheese. I also liked using the checkered rolling pin because I believe you can make ravioli faster this way and my husband liked the fact that there were no “borders” around the individual raviolo and so the ravioli were mostly stuffing.

Anyone interesting in food and cooking will love to read this book because it is filled with great recipes, cooking techniques and historical cooking methods form the 18th and 19th centuries. She also shares a photo of the family ravioli press, an interesting tool and something I had never seen before.

Sat, 10/09/2010 - 11:16

Namrata1213

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This was great recipe indeed. Thanks much
Regards
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Tue, 01/04/2011 - 07:25

zara454

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Food is the major drawback of me. I am a true foodie. Thanks a lot for all this. lupus symptoms

Sun, 01/09/2011 - 13:57

alex123

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nice recepie i will try it soon.
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Tue, 01/25/2011 - 11:24

James11

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The recipe is great I'll make this soon and I think It is easy to cook but Hard to make:)

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Wed, 01/26/2011 - 10:35

James11

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I'm thinking to cook this recipe and Well Funny thing Is I don't know how to cook food even I hadn't did ever in my life:)
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Fri, 01/28/2011 - 02:41

cChristina1

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I can share with you my tradition, but not the tradition.” And there lies the great lesson of the book – there is no one way to make something. Lindsay Single Mom

Fri, 01/28/2011 - 09:35

cybercode

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Simply, admirable what you have done here. It is pleasing to look you express from the heart and your clarity on this significant content can be easily looked. Remarkable post and will look forward to your future update.
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Fri, 01/28/2011 - 13:04

noahglohan

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I like very much ravioli but the I can make this just in cooking games because I'm an anti talent in kitchen.But I must admit this site is great and have lots of resources unknown on other like cooking methods form the 18th and 19th centuries.
Thanks!

Fri, 01/28/2011 - 13:27

cChristina1

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it is a memoir with recipes. So not only did I have a lot more reading ahead of me, I was much more engrossed in it than if I had been reading an ordinary cookbook. san diego movers

Sat, 01/29/2011 - 07:11

#10

James11

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I've not eat this kind of food in my whole life, but I'll follow this recipe and cook it. Smile
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Thu, 02/03/2011 - 01:58

#11

barbaramitchell

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I love food, i am searching for new recipes which i can try at my home. After reading your post i am looking foreword to make this food but can you please provide me full recipe for this?

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Thanks and Regards
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Fri, 02/04/2011 - 22:40

#12

lissette6oberhau

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Ever since my mother had thought me how to cook dishes and pastries I became a fan of collecting different kind of cookbooks and read each and every delicious recipes inside it. I'm still exploring for more recipe books and i think i should have that cookbook of yours, I'll find this out on the nearest bookstores here in my house or either order it online if i don't have any other choice. Thanks for sharing the book!!! -- Lyndsey

Tue, 02/08/2011 - 01:01

#13

anitha

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I like this receipe its looks nice dubai property

Tue, 02/08/2011 - 03:39

#14

rlong616

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I've to admit the recipes described here is just great. I wish I could taste recipe. Thanks for providing such nice information.
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Wed, 02/09/2011 - 08:38

#15

jazzz12345

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This recipe calls for the raw meat, of course, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that so I did cook it and then put it through my meat grinder so it would be very fine, which is important when making a filling for ravioli. acai berry side effects

Wed, 02/09/2011 - 18:04

#16

sandende

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Wed, 02/09/2011 - 18:06

#17

sandende

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Wed, 02/09/2011 - 18:08

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sandende

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Thu, 02/10/2011 - 04:43

#19

xwallx

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Great information, thank you for sharing it with us! and have a great day.

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Sat, 02/12/2011 - 01:42

#20

guidepromotion

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Good. This is really nice. Thanks for sharing online. Quilting

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 13:58

#21

Red_Ring

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What a wonderfull recipe this is and I do love italian food. You can't beat a good dish with ravioli. Thank-you, I must try this one.

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Tue, 02/15/2011 - 14:15

#22

capwestchester

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Excellent article. I will check this book out
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Tue, 02/15/2011 - 15:32

#23

RajGupta

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really thanks for it.i was finding this recipe.
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Thu, 02/17/2011 - 15:23

#24

danaray79

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Fri, 02/18/2011 - 07:38

#25

jesjain

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Sun, 02/20/2011 - 07:23

#26

Cristyna_Duk

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I lost my old favorite Sweet and Sour Meatball recipe. For the meatball, I remember it included evaporated milk and oatmeal. The sauce call for pineapple that you drained and mixed the pineapple juice with some cornstarch to thicken and vinegar also. You put the pineapple chunks back in before pouring over the meatballs. I think the recipe also called for optional peppers sliced and added in at that point.You would fry the meatballs in a pan in the oven and then throw them into your crockpot and pour the sauce over them and cook until sauce thickened. It was great over rice. Got anything like that?
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Sun, 02/20/2011 - 14:39

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newmountain11

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Tue, 02/22/2011 - 06:28

#28

jazzz12345

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Throughout the book we meet interesting characters – Italian nonnas, artisans and her cooking friend and neighbor, Lou, who tries to convince Laura of the merits of the KitchenAid mixer in pasta making. Quitosana

Tue, 02/22/2011 - 07:39

#29

led

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The recipe is great I'll make this soon and I think It is easy to cook but Hard to make:)

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Wed, 02/23/2011 - 15:20

#30

jazzz12345

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She also includes recipes and tips for general pasta making and some sauces, such as the walnut sauce I made and pesto. NY Divorce Lawyer

Thu, 02/24/2011 - 05:43

#31

shankhh

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Hey nice article. This information is really very useful.
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Mon, 02/28/2011 - 11:23

#32

noahglohan

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There is no doubt, Ravioli is one of the best food for me. I always eat this before to play some car games,bike games,motorbike games,truck games,car racing games,BMX Bike Games,Car Parking Games,My Maths,Racing Games,Drift Racing,Race Car Games because help me to concentrate better.
Always like to came back to the kitchen to see new recipes.

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 03:56

#33

jessiejones

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Interesting recipe, would love to try it soon. Thanks. mountain khaki

Wed, 03/02/2011 - 02:19

#34

excel

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After reading your post i am looking foreword to make this food but can you please provide me full recipe for The recipe also contains ground veal and ground pork, but they are left raw in the assembly of the ravioli.
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Wed, 03/02/2011 - 20:18

#35

wpolscemamymocneseo

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Looks yummy

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Thu, 03/03/2011 - 19:46

#36

car games

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The recipe is great I'll make this soon and I think It is easy to cook but Hard to make is funny games and car games Smile

Sun, 03/06/2011 - 18:30

#37

jannsens

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Sun, 03/06/2011 - 18:32

#38

jannsens

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Tue, 03/08/2011 - 22:11

#39

help for single moms

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I've never tasted ravioli before so I'm very excited to try this one. Thanks for sharing this cookbook!

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Thu, 03/10/2011 - 10:53

#40

joypink

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You know guys, I'm not fun eating chocolates and other sugar products, but I will try this one... Vance and Hines exhaust

Mon, 03/14/2011 - 05:08

#41

led

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Mon, 03/14/2011 - 14:33

#42

sontoloyo

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I really liked your recipe. Keep up the good work .

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 12:06

#43

jazzz12345

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Her curiosity consumes her and in her search for the answers, she travels to Liguria, from where her great grandparents immigrated and learns ravioli making from all sorts of people.

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