Italian Local

Italian Local celebrates the joys of Italian cooking and local produce. Tobie Puttock gathers together 100 of his favorite Italian-inspired recipes, and shows us how to achieve authentic Italian flavors wherever we live. Convinced that "cooking and eating should be about nurturing the soul as well as the body," Tobie argues for the purchase and use of the best available produce. He shows us why organic is nearly always better and why eating seasonally is the way to go. He introduces us to growers whose respect for the cycles of nature is inspirational, and to suppliers whose enthusiasm for that particular brand of cheese or type of mushroom will have you rushing to your local market. Because Tobie's approach is so produce-driven, his recipes are wonders of creation and innovation. Often, he sticks to the script of a great Italian classic such as Risotto Milanese. At other times, he improvises according to the availability of particular ingredients, resulting in some inspiring dishes such as Potato Gnocchi with Morels and Vanilla. Italian Local is a book that opens our minds to the myriad of possibilities of Italian food and to the value of using produce that is not only good for us, but good for the earth.

Tobie Puttock has worked at the River Cafe in London alongside a bevy of high-profile chefs, including Jamie Oliver, and at Italian kitchen Termini in Melbourne. In 2006, Tobie opened a new Fifteen restaurant in Melbourne, serving Italian food made with the best produce available and prepared with care, imagination, and plenty of heart. As director, he oversees the training program for employing and mentoring disadvantaged kids to become industry professionals. Most recently, Tobie opened his new venture, The Kitchen's Cat, which embodies his passions about food—locally sourced produce creating authentic Italian food served in a comfortable environment. Tobie is the author of Daily Italian and Cook Like An Italian.