My guest this week on Desert Island Dishes is Gennaro Contaldo.
The legendary Gennaro almost doesn’t need an introduction. He’s one of the UK’s most loved chefs, he’s widely known as the man who taught Jamie Oliver all he knows about Italian cooking. He spent time entertaining us with the late, great Antonio Carluccio on ‘Two Greedy Italians’, and Channel 4’s Jamie’s Italy with Jamie Oliver.
Referred to as "everyone’s favourite nonno" - he’s written more than a dozen best-selling Italian cookbooks. He has worked across and owned some of London’s top Italian restaurants and he regularly appears on TV screens with “infectious enthusiasm and energy and a greedy need for good food”.
In his spare time, he has a passion for whittling walking sticks – which is quite the tongue twister!
When Jamie Oliver was asked what he learnt from Gennaro he said simply - “everything…heart, soul, romance, fantasy - every nice word you can say.”
“WHEN ASKED TO DESCRIBE HIMSELF IN 5 WORDS HE HAS SAID:“ITALIAN, PASSIONATE, EXTROVERTED, LOUD AND TEMPERAMENTAL”
Thank you to our sponsor Nonna Tonda for sponsoring today's episode. Don't forget to use the discount code DESERTDISHES1 for 60% off the first two dishes. Head to the website www.nonnatonda.co.uk to find out more
Thank you to our season sponsor Cooks Matches for helping us to bring the show to you each week. Head to their website www.cooksmatches.co.uk for lots of recipes and foodie inspiration.
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