Jamie's Italy

This is the sixth and latest recipe book by TV celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver. The cover caption 'As seen on Channel Four' indicates that the content of the book will not come as a surprise to those readers who regularly follow Oliver's television programmes.

Even those only slightly familiar with him will know that he is a staunch advocate of fresh, seasonally available foods and his tilt is Italian. This book is the result of an epic journey around Italy. It is an exploration and celebration of the diversity that makes up true Italian cuisine - which Oliver himself acknowledges is often a point of confusion amongst Italians.



His admiration for the Italian way of life, not merely the cuisine is quite apparent. The book is written in Oliver's trademark style; chatty and colloquial. Recipes begin with a short introduction to the origin of the dish and often include possible ways of varying it. His instructions tend to be fairly detailed, yet simple and logical - very useful for the nervous chef who really needs a step by step guide.

What I found particularly useful was the descriptions and names for the various cuts of meat - something that many these days have no clue about. He also points out when and when not a butcher or fishmonger should charge you for something (not for example for fish heads or for boning).

The recipes begin with the traditional Italian starter, with Oliver's own adaptations and ideas mingled in with the authentic recipe.

There is a fairly substantial section on soups and the pasta recipes range from the simple and modest - baked pasta with tomatoes and mozzarella, to the more challenging - rotolo di zucca e ricotta (rotolo of spinach, squash and ricotta).

He covers street food, with a comprehensive section on the pizza, as you might expect. The variations are exciting and vastly more appealing (at least in the photographs) than the average English high street pizza.

The meat dishes look rich and tempting with a particularly wonderful hunters stew, and he finishes, like a meal, with deserts, nearly all fruit-based and for the most part very simple and rather refreshing.

Reading through the book and trying my hand at some of the recipes was fun and actually quite successful. For anyone wishing to improve eating habits or simply to increase their repertoire of meals, this in an excellent place to start. It's hard to go wrong with Italian food and a good guide.