For a culinary tour of Italy, or a master class in creating the nation’s many regional gems in your home kitchen, you couldn’t ask for a better tour guide than Cathy Whims. In her debut cookbook, Cathy brings together dishes from Italy’s many and varied regions, united by her masterful interpretation of cucina povera—literally “food of the poor”, which means fresh produce, local meats, handmade pasta and pizza and simple cooking methods. These recipes for drinks, appetisers, pasta, pizza, risottos, meat and fish and desserts are united not by region but by feeling: everything is authentically Italian yet easy for the home cook to create no matter where they live. Step-by-step instructions demystify essential skills like how to make fresh pasta, cook a perfect risotto and craft heavenly, light-as-a-cloud gnocchi. Readers will find tips and techniques from professional chefs and everyday home cooks, seasoned with Cathy’s always-engaging wit and reflections on history and on food, life, travel and more.