The Team Behind Bufalina Releases LIDO

From the Italian Shoreline to the Connecticut Coffee Table

If you love elegant books that inspire and cause you to slow down and savor, ones that bring all the summer vibes and have you dreaming of an Italian holiday filled with the regional flavors, and love supporting local talent, this is our summer book recommendation for you!

Husband-and-wife team Matthew Scialabba and Melissa Pellegrino share a deep love for Italian culture, shaped by over five years living in Italy and traveling across all twenty regions, from mountain villages to seaside towns, immersing themselves in the traditions and everyday life that define each place.

Now, their new book, Lido: Recipes & Stories from Italy’s Beach Clubs, captures the magic of Italy’s iconic seaside culture. With over 60 recipes, vivid photography, and rich storytelling, it highlights the charm of beach clubs across the country, where menus celebrate a coastal spirit with dishes like spaghetti alle vongole, fritto misto, and crudi. Their pizzas and salads and mocktails and cocktails are reminiscent of being on holiday in all the right ways. 

Their journey first took shape through their acclaimed cookbooks, The Italian Farmers’ Table and The Southern Italian Farmers’ Table, where they explored agriturismi long before “farm-to-table” became a trend in the U.S., highlighting authentic recipes, rural stories, and lesser-known regional dishes.

They later brought that passion home to Guilford, Connecticut, opening Bufalina in 2011, a restaurant inspired by Italy and their love of wood-fired cooking, which has since earned national reviews and recognition.

From images of the striped umbrellas of the Italian coast, European beach clubs, Lido, inspires you recreate the flavors, and the feeling, of a perfect day by the sea. Rarely has a book, and we are collectors, brought the spirit of Italy straight to us in this vibe-y kind of way from the colors, colorful stripes, fonts, imagery and recipes. 

Stay tuned for upcoming Connecticut book events and cooking classes—we’ll definitely be hosting one at Lille Shoppe in Westport. Stay tuned for more information. 

Meanwhile get your copy directly from Bufalina, RJ Julia, Lille Shoppe’d location in Westport and Guilford and Atticus Cafe.