"Italian food is Italian because it's all based on our mamas. Their whole lives were dedicated to feeding their families. That was their heart and soul," says Valencia Gionti Davis, president of the Ladies Italian-American Civic League.

As the 25th Memphis Italian Festival arrives this week, there is no better reminder of Italian heritage than a long-awaited new cookbook, "Authentic Italian Favorites," to debut at the festival with 444 recipes that are part of the heart and soul of the city's Italian community.

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Source: http://www.commercialappeal.com