Silvia Colloca visits three regions of Italy that are close to her heart - Abruzzo, Le Marche and Molise - to re-discover authentic 'cucina povera' (peasant cuisine), meet locals and share the true Italian secret of cooking. Every episode sees Silvia meet locals, cooking in their kitchens and allowing viewers a peek inside the true Italian secret of la dolce vita. She will meet chefs and cooks, who open up their Pandora box of culinary delights for viewers.
WriterSilvia Colloca
Episode 1
Nov 27, 2014
On this culinary celebration of traditional Italian cuisine Silvia has her breath taken away by stunning seaside dining on the Adriatic Sea, learns how to turn the succulent olives of Le Marche into an extraordinary snack.
Episode 2
Dec 4, 2014
Silvia visits an old farmhouse in Le Marche that epitomises rural cuisine, travels to Abruzzo for a lesson in cucina povera (peasant style cooking), and in Torricella she makes a fool proof potato gnocchi.
Episode 3
Dec 11, 2014
Silvia journeys to Ascoli Piceno and immerses herself in Italian cafe culture, learns how to turn Italy's finest seafood into unforgettable finger food, and her local 'Butcher Girls' prepare the makings of a magnificent meat ragout.
Episode 4
Dec 18, 2014
Silvia wrestles an octopus in exchange for a delectable seafood salad, learns how to make cheese and egg balls the Italian way, and teams up with her brother to make mouth-watering onion focaccia.
Episode 5
Jan 8, 2015
Silvia takes in the fresh sea air of San Benedetto del Tronto and discovers the secrets behind fritto misto, an Italian seaside speciality; she transforms luscious curds of ricotta into a sensational ricotta, chocolate and cherry tart, and turns the local wine of Abruzzo into savoury Italian waffles.
Episode 6
Jan 15, 2015
Silvia turns ingredients fresh from sea into tacconcelli with fish ragout, bakes the most remarkable spelt ciabatta, receives an education in lamb offal, and makes her son’s favourite dunking cake.
Episode 7
Jan 22, 2015
Silvia's beloved neighbour shares her take on the most heavenly flatbread; Silvia enjoys the delights of a summer barbecue (Italian-style), and her father pops by for a long-overdue cooking lesson, culminating in a glorious zucchini gratin.
Episode 8
Jan 29, 2015
Silvia receives a lesson in an Italian peasant tradition - vincisgrassi; one of her childhood friends helps out with a spring classic of lamb chops with asparagus; Silvia also whips up a party favourite - bread pockets with cheese and stewed capsicum; and, with her mum's help, she revives a long-lost recipe for sponge cake peaches.
Episode 9
Feb 5, 2015
Silvia learns how to make heavenly hand-rolled cannelloni with slow braised meat; makes one of her favourite vegetarian dishes of stuffed capsicum; explores the secrets behind an ancient recipe for Italian cheesecake; and teams up with her brother to create an exquisite clam-and-chickpea pasta, cooked risotto-style.
Episode 10
Feb 12, 2015
Silvia gets an education in spicy octopus stew - a traditional dish of Molise. Later, she makes an Italian savoury pie no picnic can go without, and her youngest son, Miro, lends a hand with his favourite honey-drizzled cluster cake.
