Michela's Tuscan Kitchen
Italian cook Michela takes us around the foodie hotspots of Southern Italy and gives us the ultimate guide to this amazing cuisine. She explores the vibrant markets before heading into a kitchen to cook up a newly inspired three course meal.
Episode 1
Michela helps to harvest saffron in medieval San Gimignano and visits a gelateria in the Tuscan region. Inspired by her journey she makes decadent fresh saffron tagliatelle with a prawn and clam sauce, meatball skewers and Affogato, a simple dessert.
Episode 2
Back in the kitchen, Michela takes inspiration from her travels to cook up an exquisite Bolognese for all the family with a Tuscan bean twist, a classic Italian pesto and with her sister, boozy pears poached in wine, an ideal dessert to end dinner.
Episode 3
Michela visits the region of Tuscany known for its fresh produce, visiting Livorno with its wonderful seafood, and a Tuscan village to make fresh Pici pasta. Back at home, she serves Bagna Cauda, a quick Tuna and Lemon Spaghetti, and Cantuccini.
Episode 4
Michela finds delicious deep-fried polenta in Livorno - a traditional street food snack, a deli specialising in wild boar products in San Gimignano and bee keeps in Montalcino, tasting heavenly local honey.
Episode 5
Michela explores the butchers, markets and restaurants of Tuscany discovering delectable local produce. Along with sister Emi, she serves pork with mango and peperoncino, mushroom risotto made with porcini mushrooms, and roasted peaches and orange syrup.
Episode 6
A trip to a red onion farm in Certaldo in the region of Tuscany inspires a Panzanella salad. Michela follows up further travels around the region with a pork dish of pork medallions, with onion, apple and cider and a Chiappa coffee classic Torta di Moka.
Episode 7
Michela samples the delights of fresh truffles grown in the hills around Siena revives her love for chickpeas upon discovering a unique chickpea pancake in a back street local eaterie and tastes potent ponce with the locals of Livorno.
Episode 8
From exploring an olive estate during the annual olive harvest to tasting Livorno's most famous fish dish cacciucco, and visiting a Sienese boutique deli known for its top-quality fruit and nut cake panforte, Michela samples the best of local produce.
Episode 9
Michela introduces us to the pleasures of aperitivo hour, a traditional pre-dinner drink with snacks, prompting a delightful chicken liver pate. Later uncovering the best seasonal locally grown fruit and veg, Michela dishes up a ricotta cream pudding.
Episode 10
Joined by sisters Emi and Romina in the kitchen, the trio cook rainbow ricotta gnocchi, adding color to an Italian favourite. Michela continues with a twist on fish and chips with seabass in a bag, a parcel of fish and veg, and a classic Italian cake.
