The Italian Baroque Table is a book about a book. The Modern Steward, or the Art of Preparing Banquets Well was written by Antonio Latini (1642-1696), an experienced cook, steward, and banquet manager who worked in Rome and central Italy in the 17th Century. He served some of the leading families and individuals in Naples, at the time Italy's largest city and the capital of its largest state. His book was, in large part, what we may call a cookbook, but in fact includes much more (and something less) than we would expect to find today in a cookbook. The Italian Baroque Table offers edited translations of selections from Latini’s work, with accompanying notes and several short essays on related topics.