A new look at Italian cuisine through its most iconic ingredients by Italian cooking teacher Viola Buitoni. The author, a native of Rome who grew up in the Umbrian countryside, presents the history and origins of basic ingredients such as balsamic vinegar, Parmesan cheese, ricotta, prosciutto and risotto rice and shows how to use them in modern home cooking. Recipes are clearly arranged by ingredient and are accompanied by tips on seasonal cooking, substitutions for harder-to-find ingredients and practical advice on shopping. An inspiring cookbook full of the authentic flavours of Italy.