Reviews

What People are Saying. . .

“Cindy & I would like to thank you for the opportunity to sample your Lasagna Genoise and Chicken Saltimboca. Both dishes were unquestionably the best we’ve eaten, reflecting the freshness of the ingredients and attention to preparation.

The Lasagna Genoise was simply outstanding. We savored every bite, enjoying the richness of the asiago, fontina, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese. The accompanying tomato sauce enhanced the flavor of the cheese and spinach lasagna. Our highest compliments to you for a world-class lasagna preparation and presentation!

The Chicken Saltimbocca was exquisitely prepared, tender, and flavorful. The seasoning used in this dish was perfect. This dish displays your culinary creativity and skill as this is not an easy dish to master.

The rosemary garlic bread was the perfect and innovative compliment to the lasagna and saltimbocca. Thank you again for a wonderful culinary experience!”

Best regards,
Cindy & Eric Hammersand, Proprietors
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill, Longboat Key, FL

 

 

"I use your '36 Reasons . . .' quite a bit.  The marinara sauce is a staple, and we've tried the scrod Siciliano, the shrimp Piccante with risotto, the carbonara sauce with fettuccine, and a personal favorite, the sun-dried tomatoes and basil in bechamel sauce."

Best to you,

Pat Cunning
Massachusetts

  

 

"Michael Hanna's pesto recipe is genius. With the addition of a single ingredient he translates a classic recipe in a sublimely tasty direction.  His cookbook bares the essential of Italian cooking with a detail that reveals his love of the grenre.  A week after I bought my book, I ordered a second for my son."

Domenick Cover
Sarasota, FL 

 

 

"Report on the Marinara Sauce.  Wow!!!!  What a tantalizing experience.  An absolute delight on the pallet.  Pushing 60 years of age, loved Italian food my whole life and in many fine Italian restaurants and never had a dish taste like that.  Michael's cook book is a must buy.  a Pauper's price for a King's meal.  Outstanding!!!!"

Ted Holmes
California

 

"Hands down the best cookbook for Authentic Italian Food!  The instructions were easy to follow and the results were superb.  We hope Mr. Hanna will have another cookbook.  This guy knows his stuff!  Buy this book, we highly recommend it."

Jimmy & Monica "A Fan!" (From Amazon.com)

 

  

“Thanks for sharing your menu with us! What a great tasting meal we had. By eating it, my husband and myself felt to be in Italy, that’s how original it was. The special combination of flavours, the pasta with the touch of garlic and a hint of herbs was just stunning!
Thanks again and good luck for all your goals and dreams!”
Beate & Peter Goldstein
Bavaria, Germany

 

 

“I want to thank you both for preparing such a wonderful meal! Sal and I really enjoyed it!

It was Chicken Marsala with mushrooms and garlic bread along with tomatoes and fresh basil in the most outrageously delicious marinade I have ever tasted! The entire meal was divine! Tender and light, completely satisfying! I thought it was absolutely great, exactly the kind of meal I hope to learn to prepare myself… someday!!

But, what do I know about Italian dishes? I’m from Colorado! I did not grow up with an Italian grandmother cooking for me. (I’ve only lived with Italians for the last 20 years, but that doesn’t count).

So, without preamble or any introduction, I brought the meal down the street and shared it with my husband’s family – that’s the real test! Their reaction was very enthusiastic! These are just a few of the responses; ‘scrumptious!’ ‘The way mamma used to make it, pure Italian,’ ‘better than any restaurant,’ and my favorite… ‘damned delicious!’ I agree! Thanks for including us in the testing process; it’s a rough job, but somebody’s got to do it!”

Best regards,
Nanci Yarter & Sal Caputo, Proprietors
Salon Alternatives
Sarasota, FL

 

 

“Pesto – In a word… Botanically flavorful to the palate. Loved every last bite!
Thanks for indulging me!!”
Lori Frailing, O.T./C.H.T.
Sarasota, FL

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Your tomato sauce (Marinara Sauce) recipe is ‘absolutely delicious.’ I was a little skeptical when I saw anchovies, but tried it anyway and have been making it ever since!

‘The best sauce I ever ate’ said my 23 yr. old son, whom also loves to cook.

My husband can’t leave the kitchen once the ‘wonderful aroma’ reaches those Italian nostrils. He’s constantly testing the sauce.

I triple the recipe because I like enough to freeze. So far I have tried it over ravioli, stuffed shells and in a meatless lasagna. All outstandingly delicious. I also added meatballs to it, to serve with my meatless lasagna.

I have to say, ‘This is the best sauce recipe’ I have ever made and oh, ‘the aroma.’

My dad loves to come to dinner when I serve this meal.

Thank you so much for sharing!”
Nancy Bozyczko
Hopkinton, MA

 

 

“Chicken (Cacciatore) was moist and tender. All the seasonings were blended perfectly to make a very flavorful dish, giving you a wonderful taste of Italy.”
Linda Loria Ericson
Sarasota, FL
Manma Filomena (Loria) says, “Molto Buono!!”

 

 

“Yummy!! Everything was delicious. Thank you for thinking of me.”
Pat Tellbuescher
Sarasota, FL

 

 

“Thank you so much for that taste of Italy you made me. . . I am so fussy about Italian food. If you opened a restaurant, I would be a weekly patron. That Chicken Parmesan was the best I have ever tasted!”
Thanks again,
Theresa Nemeth
Sarasota, FL

 

 

“Your pasta was absolutely delicious. Excellent taste and the spices were just right. I would recommend it to anyone.”
Matt Somerville
Sarasota, FL

 

 

“I had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful dish made by Mr. Michael Hanna. He made Shrimp and Scallops with noodles in an Alfredo Sauce.

The seafood was done perfectly, tender, and succulent. The noodles were done al dente, just as I like them. The Alfredo sauce was flavorful, with just a hint of garlic and very smooth and creamy.”

“I would certainly have this dish again. I enjoyed it very much.”

Judy Lafreniere
Sarasota, FL

 

 

“Thank you so much for letting me taste two of your pasta dishes! They both were so tasty and flavorful, I didn’t want to stop! The scallops and shrimp pesto was my favorite, but the pasta (Amatriciana Sauce with sausages) you gave me . . . was also, oh, so good! You’re a wonderful chef!”
Marlene Kirchner
Sarasota, FL

 

 

“I got a taste of the pasta meal and it was very delicious. The pasta itself was cooked to perfection and the sauce (Marinara Sauce) was awesome. I never had anything like it, and not to mention, the garlic bread was great too. I would recommend that dish to everyone who enjoys food.”
Latasha Bell
Sarasota, FL

 

 

“. . . I had two of your dishes. I had the spaghetti which was wonderful. The sauce was just right. Then I had the chicken cacciatore. This was also very good. The chicken was excellent. My favorite part was the garlic bread. The bread was chewy and it had just the right amount of garlic and cheese.”
Thanks,
Rachel Knepp
Sarasota, FL

 

 

“Your shrimp and scallops in pesto tossed with pasta entrée were fabulous! This is a ‘gotta have’ recipe. I can’t wait to make it myself. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful treat.”
Julie Reiter
Sarasota, FL

 

 

“I enjoyed pasta you gave me once to try. The taste was really delicious and I could hardly stop eating. Frankly speaking, that was one of the best pastas I’ve ever tried. And I really enjoyed olive (garlic) bread that came along with the pasta.”
“It was really unforgettable experience! Thank you!”
Sincerely,
Julia Kalinina
Khabarousk, Russia

 

 

“Michael Hanna me trajo una deliciosa comida de camarones y scallops combinado con unos espaguetis y salsa de pesto. Tenia un sabor a ajo esquisito, yo creo que es la mejor comida italiana que he probado en un largo tiempo, tu debes de tratarlo, es la mejor.”
Gracias,
Mabel Aliaga
Sarasota, FL

Translation: “Michael Hanna brought me a delicious meal of shrimp and scallops combined with spaghetti and pesto sauce. It had a garlic flavor that was exquisite; I think it was the best Italian meal that I have tasted in a long time. You should try it, it’s the best.”