Italian Coastal is Amber Guinness's newly released second cookbook. It's a captivating journey through Italy's coastal regions, beautifully illustrated with stunning photography and filled with delicious recipes.
Amber's Italian Roots
Amber Guinness grew up in Italy, in a villa that her parents bought the year she was born in 1989. "I was brought up here," she shares, recounting her childhood in their villa near Siena, and not far from Montalcino, a renowned wine-growing region. Amber's parents met in Florence, fell in love, and eventually moved to a farmhouse on a hill, which they transformed into a beautiful home despite initial challenges. "The house didn’t have any electricity or water. My parents moved into one room upstairs, which had a fireplace, and we camped there for a couple of years," Amber recalls.
A British-Italian Upbringing
Although Amber feels a strong connection to both Britain and Italy, she describes a sense of dual identity. "Whenever I'm in England, I feel very Italian, and whenever I'm here, I feel quite English," she says. Her early education was in Italian, which posed challenges when her family moved to London when she was 13 to ensure she could also write in English.
Her Return to Italian Roots
After spending her teenage years in London, Amber returned to Italy at the age of 26. She and her British husband initially planned to stay for six months but ended up settling in Italy. Amber's artistic family background, including her father, a landscape gardener, and her mother, an interior designer, played a significant role in shaping her appreciation for beauty and creativity.
Revitalizing the Family Home
Amber's family villa, Arniano, became a center for artistic and culinary activities after a period of absence following her father's death in 2011. To bring life back to the villa, Amber started hosting painting courses in 2014 with her friend, landscape painter William Roper-Curzon. These courses not only revived the villa but also inspired Amber's first cookbook, "A House Party in Tuscany," published in 2022.
The Inspiration Behind Amber's new book
Italy's extensive coastline has always been a source of fascination for Amber. "Coastal life is very important. The rolling hills get very hot come July and August, and everyone escapes to the coast," she explains. Amber's new book explores the diverse and vibrant Italian coastal cuisine from Tuscany to Sicily, highlighting the regional variations and rich culinary traditions.
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Leave a CommentHighlights from Italian Coastal
Amber shared three of her favorite recipes from the book:
- Rigatoni al Fuoco: Inspired by the volcanic island of Stromboli, this dish combines cherry tomatoes, fresh chili, and ricotta to create a fiery, flavorful pasta.
- Sea Bass Fillets with Pistachios: A simple yet elegant dish featuring sea bass topped with ground pistachios, pine nuts, and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Amalfi Lemon Cream Cake: A cake version of the famous Delizia al Limone, this dessert is a delightful blend of light sponge cake, custard, whipped cream, and lemon curd.
Her Creative Process
Amber's journey of creating Italian Coastal involved a collaborative effort with talented individuals like food stylist Alice Adams and photographer Saghar Setareh, known for her cookbook Pomegranates and Artichokes.
Amber's team managed to produce a visually stunning and evocative cookbook.
Italian Coastal is a love letter to Italy's coastal regions, filled Amber's personal stories, historical insights, and mouthwatering recipes.
You can explore Amber's culinary journey and try out her delicious recipes by grabbing a copy of Italian Coastal.
And don't forget to listen to the full podcast episode for more fascinating stories and insights from Amber Guinness.
More delicious cookbook author conversations from the Flavor of Italy podcast
You'll find lots of cookbook author interviews on the Flavor of Italy Podcast; here are three you'll enjoy:
Discover Liguria region food in Laurel Evan's fabulous book.
A double interview with award-winning Meryl Feinstein, author of Pasta Every Day
Rosetta Costantino's book, My Calabria, features great recipes from this region.
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