Laurina's Kitchen: Generations of Heirloom Dishes from the Ecobelli Family

Laurina's Kitchen is a collection of recipes, memories, and stories inspired by the authors' grandmother Laurina Ecobelli. Laurina (Laura), along with their grandfather Donata (Dan), and their father Ralph, operated Ecobelli's Tam O'Shanter Inn on Route 50 in Ballston Spa for over 40 successful years. This lively and entertaining cookbook contains the heirloom family recipes for many of the popular dishes for which "The Tam" was famous, including their legendary pizzas. Also featured are recipes from close friends and other members of the Ecobelli family who were all inspired by Laurina's creative flair. A colorful and eclectic mix of ephemera, such as menus, postcards, and newspaper articles, help to bring this Upstate New York institution back to life. Peppered throughout are images of the Ecobellis and their extended "family" around the restaurant and at home, as well as special memories contributed by the staff, patrons, and friends who were all a part of the restaurant's devoted community. It is a loving tribute to Laurina's legacy.

Laurina's Kitchen is a companion piece to the forthcoming movie, Chickadee (www.ChickadeeTheMovie.com), also written by the brother and sister team of Tom and Lora Lee Ecobelli. Chickadee is based on the real life experiences of Laurina Inzinna (Ecobelli), whose childhood abuse and exploitation sparked a landmark court case in upstate New York in 1923.