Bonacini's Italy (2018)
Bonacini's Italy
2018Italian cuisine is so much more than pizza and pasta – but there’s still lots of tasty pasta in Bonacini’s Italy. Celebrity Chef Michael Bonacini cooks his way through 15 Italian regions, exploring the flavours and ingredients that make these areas unique. Each episode takes us through an entire meal from one region, from antipasto, soup, or salad, to delicious primo, succulent secondo, and even sometimes a decadent dolce. As he cooks, Michael regales viewers with stories of his travels in Italy and tells us interesting facts about each region he focuses on. Set in a warm, contemporary kitchen, Michael inspires viewers to try their hand at making sumptuous Italian fare.
Seasons & Episode
Delving into the cold mountainous region of Valle D'Aosta, Michael whips up four hearty dishes that are sure to warm up any chilly day. Wild mushrooms and lardo on rye, chestnut fettuccine with pork and cabbage, stuffed veal cutlets, and hazelnut cookies make up the menu.
Michael celebrates Tuscany's fine cuisine with four of his favourite dishes, including mushroom soup, lamb ragu, porchetta-style duck, and a creamy coffee custard.
From hearty inland crops to fresh food of the sea, the Venetian region covers it all. Michael begins with the sea as he serves up soft-shell crab which he pairs with tangy aioli made from sundried tomatoes. Moving inland for his primo, Michael twists together two classic Venetian dishes to make a new favourite - radicchio risotto.
Puglia's lush landscape and large coastline characterise its cuisine. Michael explores its native ingredients through some of his favourite Puglian meals. First up, he serves crispy fried mussels, followed by tomato and burrata risotto.
Simplicity is key in Sicilian cuisine and Michael explores just how the region balances simplicity with intensity through four flavourful dishes. He starts with an antipasto of folded flatbread with ricotta and fennel seeds and a primo of broccoli and sausage rigatoni.
Michael delves into the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna to discover its iconic cuisine. He starts with mortadella mousse spread on fluffy Modena flatbreads, and tortellini in broth - dish originally from Bologna that can be easily altered to personal taste. For his secondo, Michael uses traditional ingredients and pairs them in a tart, luxurious dish of duck breast with balsamic cherry sauce.
Chef Michael Bonacini explores sweet and spicy dishes hailing from the coastal region of Calabria. For his antipasto, Michael cooks up a light and refreshing brioche with gelato. Switching to spice for the primo, Michael prepares a spicy sausage and ricotta pasta. For his secondo, Michael goes for a hearty lamb au gratin with peas and asparagus.
Appreciating island culture, Michael Bonacini explores the enchanting region of Sardegna and its exceptional cuisine. Michael begins his island feast with a taste of the sea through his antipasto of stuffed snails. Next, Michael prepares a luxurious and delicate lobster spaghetti, highlighting the fresh seafood of the region.
Italian cuisine is so much more than pizza and pasta – but there’s still lots of tasty pasta in Bonacini’s Italy. Celebrity Chef Michael Bonacini cooks his way through 15 Italian regions, exploring the flavours and ingredients that make these areas unique. Each episode takes us through an entire meal from one region, from antipasto, soup, or salad, to delicious primo, succulent secondo, and even sometimes a decadent dolce. As he cooks, Michael regales viewers with stories of his travels in Italy and tells us interesting facts about each region he focuses on. Set in a warm, contemporary kitchen, Michael inspires viewers to try their hand at making sumptuous Italian fare.