If you spend a lot of time looking at cooking videos on YouTube, the Italia Squisita channel has probably appeared in your feed. This chef-driven series of videos takes you through preparation of familiar dishes (tomato sauce, lasagna, pesto) but turns you into an expert at making them. Then there are more elaborate preparations (seafood risotto, original vs. gourmet, for instance) that help you create elaborate show-stoppers—but makes the process accessible. (That said, some of them take a lot of time and ingredients.)
Cook at Home with Italia Squisita’s Cookbooks
In addition to the YouTube channel, Italia Squisita puts out a beautiful journal and a handful of cookbooks, including a two-volume set on pasta (one book is devoted to fresh, the other to dry), one on rice, and their latest called Original & Gourmet, in which 50 chefs (mostly Italian) share recipes both well-known and esoteric. You’ll learn innovative techniques, learn how to incorporate unusual ingredients, and gain the confidence to become a top notch Italian cook—or to upgrade your skills if you already are one.
The most intriguing aspect of the Italia Squisita brand is that they respect both tradition and innovation, and chefs often discuss that balance between the two. They don’t throw away techniques that produce excellent results, but bring fresh perspectives when they can augment flavor. It’s the best of both worlds—and it’s all very delicious.
Story by Stephen Treffinger / Photo courtesy of Italia Squisita
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