summer entertaining recipes

Bean Panzanella Salad
Bean Panzanella Salad

Bean Panzanella Salad excerpted from Lido: Recipes and Stories from Italy’s Beach Clubs. Text © 2026 Melissa Pellegrino and Matthew Scialabba. Photography © 2026 Melissa Pellegrino and Matthew Scialabba.

Lido: Recipes and Stories from Italy's Beach Clubs. Copyright © 2026 by Melissa Pellegrino and Matthew Scialabba.

An intoxicating tour of Italian Lidos with lush photography,  recipes  and more, from some of the most sought-after  beach clubs in Italy.

Brightly coloured umbrellas dance in the wind, above matching sun beds in the same bold hues. The crystal blue water shimmers in the background and gently laps against the pebble beaches. Bronzed, glistening bodies dot the landscape. Like most things Italian, there is an art to a day at the beach.

Lido is a transporting exploration of the history, culture, and food of Italian beach clubs. Part 1 invites you to the clubs along the whole of the Italian coast. Part 2 shares over 60 recipes from appertivi to dolci. Living la dolce vita has never been easier with recipes for Pinsa with Ricotta and Mortadella, Lobster Risotto, Puglian Bruschetta with Marinated Summer Squash, and Pavlova with Fior Di Latte Cream.

  • A Journey through Italy’s Beach Clubs
  • Coastal-Inspired Italian Recipes  
  • On-Location Photography throughout Italy
  • Italian Vacation Inspiration  

Grab your towel and find your spot under the umbrella. The salty, sweet air and azure waters of the beach clubs await. (more…)

Tza-zikki
Tza-zikki

Tza-zikki excerpted from Eat Small Plates: Vibrant, Shareable Dishes for Daily Joy by Ben Siman-Tov and Zikki Siman Tov. Copyright © 2025 Ben Siman-Tov and Zikki Siman Tov. Published by Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Eat Small Plates: Vibrant, Shareable Dishes for Daily Joy by Ben Siman-Tov and Zikki Siman Tov.

The dynamic couple behind @BenGingi share their favourite mix-and-match-ready recipes for effortless everyday dining and easy hosting

From a serendipitous meeting on a street corner in a tiny town in the Italian Alps to their food studio at the heart of the East Village in New York City, Ben and Zikki have been on a culinary adventure since the very moment they met. Ben’s first gift to Zikki? A half loaf of beetroot sourdough. And their first date? Zikki taught Ben to make potato varenyky, secretly prepping him to help her make 1,000 for an event the following week!

These days, with not a moment to spare, they happily host friends and family and run a sought-after catering business in New York City. Their debut cookbook, Eat Small Plates, is an ode to a style of eating at the heart of their lived experiences together: travelling, creating a family, and building beautiful lasting friendships wherever a meal can be shared. Here, they offer their favourite small plate recipes for greater joy and connection every day.

Ben’s knack for vibrant Israeli flavours and Zikki’s passion for shareable, soul-warming Ukrainian-inspired dishes combine in Eat Small Plates to create bold and exciting recipes for every dinner or gathering. With favourites such as Ben’s freshly baked Pita, Zikki’s crunchy chopped Jewelled Celery Salad, and creamy Cashew Basil dip, this ultimate hosting cheat sheet helps home cooks transform simple ingredients into beautiful, intentional dishes. Ben and Zikki share essential cooking techniques—from charring an eggplant to incorporating pickling into your daily routine—and even tips for those who don’t want to cook at all (but still want to host!). This book is a celebration of the feast-ready lifestyle, and a guide to spreading love through food. (more…)