I had the pleasure of meeting Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi at their home when I took a pasta class with Katie Caldesi in 2011. At the time, Katie had just published a book called The Italian Cookery Course, which was one of my favourite books of 2011. Since then, Katie and Giancarlo have continued to be super-busy, teaching Italian courses at La Cucina Caldesi and running their restaurants, Caffè Caldesi in Marlebone and Caldesi in Campagna in the beautiful, quaint foodie town of Bray. Katie and Giancarlo are incredibly charismatic and passionate about authentic Italian food. I continue make my Lasagne at home to Katie’s recipe and I have been eagerly awaiting the release of their latest book, The Amalfi Coast, published by Hardie Grant, which they’ve written together.
I visited the Amalfi Coast in September 2005, with my soon-to-be husband. We ate like we’ve never eaten before and it was our last holiday pre-marriage and pre-children, so I hold onto some very special and precious memories of that trip. Like Katie and Giancarlo, we soaked up the people and the delights of Positano, Sorrento, Amalfi and Capri and this book brings back many wonderful memories for me. The people who live there are known as the Amalfitani, and the coastline is known as the Sorrentine Peninsula or la Costiera Amalfitana.
In her introduction, Katie mentions “the erratic local driving,” and yes, that is a memory I share and hold to this day, too! But I also remember the warmness of the people, the olive groves, the lemon trees, the seafood, and the largest gelato we’ve ever eaten in Amalfi! The ice creams was so large they obscured our faces in one of our photographs – I’ll have to dig it out.
In Katie and Giancarlo’s latest book The Amalfi Coast, you’ll find an overabundance of Southern Italian magic – Antipasti, Soups, Bread and Pizza, Risottos and Stocks, Pasta, Fish, Poultry and Meat, Vegetables, Desserts, Cocktails and Drinks and Cheese. They really have left no stone unturned in their quest to find the best food, the best people and the best stories to share with you.
I’m going to start with the Pasticcioti or Custard and Cherry Cakes as they look too delightful not to make and I’ll be back with a full review once I’ve immersed myself in everything Amalfi.
Here’s your chance to win a copy in the meantime –
The Amalfi Coast by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi is published by Hardie Grant with an RRP of £25. With many thanks for my review and giveaway copies.
Related Posts
A Pasta Class with Katie Caldesi
Review: An Italian Cookery Course by Katie Caldesi
Gary Martindale says
Lasagne
DENISE WILDEN says
SPAGHETTI CARBONARA LOVELY!
Karen R says
I love gnocchi!
Bohdan Kuczynski says
How can you choose just one favourite from such a wonderful world of cuisine? I love fresh pasta, the heat and olives inpasta arabiata, seafood especially in a wonderful risotto, Steak florentine, simple bruschetta..the list goes on and on 🙂
Dan Caldon says
it has to be gnocchi
Lisa Ellison says
My family and I adore Carbonara delicious creamy. Yummy
Kelly Hooper says
lasagne 🙂
kristy brown says
Mmmm Spaghetti Carbonara!
Katherine D says
I have the fondest memories of the delicious gnocci I ate at Marina Grande in Sorrento last summer.
Deborah Wheeler says
I like risotto with wild mushrooms or fresh spring vegetables
Emma Sim says
oOo it has to be Lasagne, it’s so yummy!
Phillippa Lee says
I love mozzarella with buffalo tomatoes and basil.
Lisa Wilkinson says
I really love Balsamic Vinegar from Modena 🙂
Joanne McGawley says
Fresh Tomatoes and Oregano 🙂 Yum!
Sarah McI says
Love a nice simple caprese 🙂
Maria Turner says
crab spaghetti – although rather partial to tiramisu as well! 🙂
Tammy Tudor says
Tiramisu with extra wine! 🙂
Jesse Partington says
Lasagne
Paul Witney says
Love carbonara
Simon C says
Pizza! 🙂
Simon.
Ursulab says
a really cheesy cannelloni
june seghni says
Tagliatelle with salmon in a cream sauce
Kim says
Pesto sauce. Easiest and most perfect meal ever on fresh pasta.
Diane says
I love to make Pasta Puttanesca.
Erin Satterly says
Spicy Italian sausages with fennel
Erica Price says
Fresh italian tomatoes. We went to the Amalfi Coast just before I conceived my son, so it was our last big child free holiday. Wonderful – we’ll be going back some day.
George Worboys Wright says
The traditional flavour combination of basil, mozzarella and tomato with a twist of black pepper, salad leaves and a squeeze of lemon (Amalfi obviously!) is my favourite.
Janine Atkin says
spagetti bolognaise. i could eat it every day
Nancy Bradford says
Pasta lenticchie with parmesan rinds mixed in. as a side dish for chicken parmesan.
ClaireG says
My fave Italian food is definitely gelato – nothing better on a hot summery day than spending hours prevaricating over which flavours to try out! I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting the Amalfi Coast but my grandparents have not long been and she’s an amazing cook, never met anyone else with more cookbooks so I’d get extra brownie points if I gave her this one 🙂
Christina Cooke says
I’m boring so have got to say my favourite Italian food is Bolognese 🙂
Jill says
Tiramisu
Claire Nelson says
I love gnocchi and also gorgonzola!
Samantha Atherton says
Pizza
Janet Rumley says
Pizza, spaghetti carbonara, tiramasu ……… the list could be endless !
Gillian Holmes says
Pizza
Sheri Darby says
I adore Tiramisu and corny but true, Spaghetti Bolognaise
Mike says
Seafood Rissotto
Pamela says
Mozzarella cheese and tomato salad
Angie Hoggett says
I love mushroom risotto
Carol D says
Lasagne .. love pasta in all its forms .. if i had to live on one type of food for the rest of my life, i would choose pasta. So versatile, easy to cook & makes such tasty, filling meals.
Sophie Buckle says
Love Lasagne
Eleanor Powell says
I love Carbonara but Italian is a little harder for me these days as I am gluten free 🙁
Margaret says
I love most pasta (as long as its not in a cream-based sauce!), but my favourite is lasagne 🙂
Emily Fowler says
Such a difficult decision, I love Italian food! I had the best ever Tirimisu a few years ago in Florence, going back to Italy in a couple of months for 10 days of glorious food and wine, so my answer may change then!
hannah oneill says
I love tomatoes!
Samantha Remington says
Minestrone soup!
Anne McCutcheon says
I like pizza
Daniel Stacey says
goats cheese & spinach pizza
Laura Wyles says
Parma Ham
Hannah says
I love pizza with Parma ham on it!
Janet Bagnall says
My favourite Italian meal is cacciatore, delicious
Galina V says
There are so many dishes to choose from. I love pasticchio di macceroni. And of course, dolci and gelati are to die for, again which one to choose, there are so many fab cakes and pastries.
gina kollyropoulou says
i adore everything of italian cuisine! my favorite is lasagne con spinaci. i also love to bake all italian mini semi-sweets, aka dolcetti . thank you for your generous giveaway! ✿◠‿◠) gina
Greig spencer says
Pride of Britain
Cristina McDowall says
Favourite food: tagliatelle alla crema
Audrey Slezak says
My favorite Italian food is pizza.
Found your blog o n Pinterest. Since my husband is 100% Polish, I plan to return to your site frequently. Enjoyed your post about Christmas Eve – we celebrate the same way, including the wafers, pierogi, kielbasa, kapusta, etc. Wonderful traditions to pass on to coming generations.
pete says
Lasagne
Claire Smith says
Gnocci with marinara sauce
Mickie Bull says
All types of risotto 🙂
Pete Belcher says
Mums lasagne
Yvonne Crook says
I love penne pasta with an Arrabiata sauce and pepperoni with parmesan
KAREN TAYLOR says
Fresh pasta with a creamy sauce flavoured with basil and oregano straight from the garden.A handful of fat black olives while i am cooking washed down with a glass of chianti : )
Angela McDonald says
Has to be classic spaghetti bolognese! I’ve always loved pasta and noodles too!
claire woods says
Pasta.
Jo welsh says
Love lasagne
Elaine Savage says
lasagne
iain says
pizza
CHRISTINE ANDREWS says
………..tiramisu
Miss Tracy Hanson says
I’m boring I guess because I love pasta and anything, but lasagne is my favourite 🙂 😀 Good luck to all x
Karen says
Anything with pasta
Solange says
Lasagne
justine meyer says
lasagne
tamalyn roberts says
my home made spaghetti bolognese, its the best!
Andrea MacLeod says
Lasagne!
Beverley Marsh says
I love any type of risotto and pizzas
Julie Picton says
Love Gnocci
Jenny says
Lasagne is my favourite, but I love all Italian food ..
liz denial says
I love all Italian vegetarian food especially lasagne
Catherine Sinead Mary Reynolds says
Any risotto dish is good, though I love chicken and pea risotto <3
Phil Darling says
Wild mushroom risotto – love it
Suzanne says
Ravioli with parmesan cheese, black pepper and garlic.
Anne Graham says
Chicken Caccaitore is a favourite in our house!
corin leach says
Favourite Italian food has to be pizza!
Andrea Mynard says
Lovely review and how fab to be transported for a few minutes to southern Italy with plenty of sunshine and fantastic food. The book sounds great, but you’re also making me want to visit the Amalfi coast. Have never been but this is reminding me of the food in the Cinque Terre in Liguria – it’s the home-made pasta and ice cream that immediately springs to mind but also all those amazingly fragrant lemons!
Sally - My Custard Pie says
I attended Cucina Caldesi last year and thought Giancarlo was lovely – very down to earth and utterly dedicated to simple food made with excellent ingredients. I’d love a copy of this book.
PS You brought back memories of our last trip pre-children, to Malaysia – very special.
Liz says
Strange though it may seem, my favourite Italian ingredient is the caper! Not any old caperi, but those from a stone’s throw away from the Amalfi coast, that grow in the Aeolian Islands, particularly on Salina. Like you, I have a pre-kid (though not pre-marriage) holiday memory of the Aeolian Islands with hubby, popping around Salina on a moped (so small, you don’t need other transport) and pretending we were on the film set of ‘Il Postino’. We live in Malta, where capers grow as well of course, but those of Salina are famed! I love the way they keep forever packed dry in salt; banishing those watery vinegar ones forever! Not visited the Amalfi Coast, but I can imagine very soon it will be redolent with the heavy scent of lemon blossom. Must try the Caldesi’s books before I visit.
Liz Thomas says
The Amalfi Coast by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi sounds like a wonderful book. I’ve read about them before and would love to visit.
Hope I might be lucky again!
Cheers!
Liz
David Vaughan says
My wife and I both love BASILICO:-)!
David Vaughan says
We LOVE the Amalfi Coast so can’t wait to read this cookbook!
laura banks says
it has to be gnocchi totally yummy
Kirsty Fox says
I really love Lasagne
zosia says
I love spinach-ricotta gnocchi with a simple (but good) tomato sauce.
Katie Skeoch says
boring but I love bruschetta with olive oil & basil xx
Rebecca Phillips says
Mushroom tagliatelle
Alex Ryder says
I absolutely love Italy, my parents have been going to Tuscany for many years and also rave about the Amalfi coast. I love pasta, risotto, polenta! Love it all 🙂
olivia kirby says
I enjoy pasta with a homemade basil pesto.
melanie stirling says
lasagne is my absolute favourite! 🙂
Helen Dickinson says
I love all kinds of pizza’s
Cucina ceri says
Yes please! I had a wonderful day at Cucina Caldesi before I went gluten-free. I love Italian cooking despite not being able to eat pasta or pizza and try to get the flavours in other ways – this book looks like it would be excellent inspiration!
Corina says
I love making pasta arabiata.
thelittleloaf says
Homemade egg tagliatelle, crispy pizza, seafood, mozzarella, polenta, proper sausages…too many favourite Italian foods to list!
Tracy Nixon says
I am a cheese lover – parmesan cheese is lovely – goes on all my pasta dishes!