Cook like an Italian

Jamie spent six weeks travelling around Italy re-discovering his love of cooking and learning lots about the art of Italian cuisine.
Learn to cook wonderful food just like Mama does with these top tips from Jamie's travels.


# Keep things simple – use the freshest, in season, locally produced ingredients.
# Be bold with your flavours - go for rustic, robust flavours.
# Make the local dishes – Italians like their regional dishes and don’t like them being messed about with. Ask the mamas and the nonnas for their family recipes.
# Have fun with your cooking – as seafood chef Giovanni from Marettimo told Jamie.
# It’s all about flavour rather than appearance –this is cucina povera or peasant food.
# You don’t need lots of time – Italian mums cook quick fantastic food like risotto or pasta – even after a long day at work.
# When buying meat – think about how the animal lived and was killed. Was it humane? If you buy meat at a butchers or at the meat counter of a supermarket you can ask these questions.
# Be adventurous – try out new flavours, new recipes and new ingredients.
# Show your passion for cooking – all Italians are passionate about food from the youngest child to the oldest grandfather.
# Remember what Jamie says; ”As long as you care, as long as you’ve got your family around the table, whether its French, English or Italian – its just cooking and that’s what it’s all about."