A group of people enjoying an outdoor dinner party, raising glasses of red wine in a toast, with a man standing at the head of the table. The setting includes a lush green landscape with trees and bushes, and a yellow tablecloth with food and drinks.

Amici

The friends that I introduce in this book are all great home cooks—some are professionals.

They all have their own culinary signature. They create food from memories and vision, not from recipes. Their recipes—some appearing in a book for the first time—serve only as a way to communicate what they instinctively know. They allow you to develop your own feel for a dish.

Meet a few of those friends.

  • A smiling man with gray hair holding a glass of red beverage with ice, sitting outdoors near greenery and trees.

    LUCIANO

    In the United States, a lot of men become obsessed with golf. In Tuscany, many become obsessed with mushrooms. My friend Luciano is one of those mushroom fanatics.

  • A man holding a glass of white wine standing in front of shelves filled with various bottles of wine and spirits in a wine shop.

    RICCARDO

    Riccardo Azzato is a force of nature. He epitomizes the small business work ethic that drives so much of the Italian economy.

  • A man with gray hair, glasses, and a white shirt stands in a room with artwork and bottles of wine, adjusting his red glasses.

    SAVERIO

    By day, Saverio is a professional waiter. He’s charismatic, passionate about life, mischievous, and just a little bit crazy in that good-crazy kinda way.

  • Young woman with brown hair smiling while shopping at an indoor market.

    KARLY

    Karly moved from Washington, DC to Florence with no preconceived notion of what she’d do other than follow her passion for cooking and Italy. Ultimately, she rose through the male-dominated ranks of one of the city’s best trattorias to become its chef de cuisine. She mastered the classics, and created a few new ones of her own.

  • A man outdoors smiling and leaning on a gardening shovel next to a stone wall with plants, trees, and greenery in the background.

    FERNANDO

    When he’s not on the basketball court, Fernando loves to cook. And like most Argentinians, he likes to cook meat—over a live fire.

  • Chef in white shirt and black tie serving pasta with clams in a commercial kitchen.

    ANDREA

    On Thursdays, people come for the spaghetti alle vongole prepared with clams procured that day from the visiting fish monger.

  • A woman with brown hair wearing a light blue blouse and black pants, standing outdoors next to a lemon tree, smiling.

    ANTONIETTA

    Antonietta and her husband, Donato, both originally hail from Campania, the Southern Italian region encompassing the city of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. She’s a great cook who brings warmth and Campanian specialties to her table.

  • A smiling older man in a dark blue shirt standing in a rustic kitchen with brick walls, wooden shelves, and vintage kitchen items.

    SERGIO

    Sergio is as Roman as it gets. Born and raised in the city and a lifelong resident, he is my authority on all things Roman, be it soccer, politics, or authentic Roman cuisine.

  • A man and woman in black aprons with a rooster logo, standing and sitting outdoors in front of a lush green wall of plants, with a bamboo roof overhead.

    SABATINO AND JENNI

    At I’ Galletto ‘Briaco Trattoria, Jenni tends to the front of the house while Sabatino mans the kitchen with steady hands, turning out thoughtfully prepared dishes.

Come along on a culinary journey that will lead you down your own path to delicious Tuscan cooking and beyond.

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