With its sunny, rich flavours, fresh simplicity and relaxed, colourful presentation, it is little wonder that Italian food is popular the world over. There are few greater pleasures than biting into a crisp, meltingly delicious slice of pizza, twirling fresh pasta and heavenly sauce on your fork or stirring a risotto to creamy, fragrant perfection. This collection of 180 authentic classics from our local Italian restaurant includes favourite pizza, pasta and risotto recipes: it is the perfect cookbook to turn to on any occasion, whether you are making a quick dish for children or cooking for a dinner party. There are recipes to delight seafood lovers, meat eaters and vegetarians alike, and all of them draw upon Italy's store-cupboard of rich olive oil, fresh herbs and good, natural produce. Make the best of seasonal vegetables with Garganelli with Asparagus and Cream or Pumpkin and Apple Risotto, opt for irresistible classics such as Spaghetti with Meatballs or Fiorentina Pizza, or share a flavour-filled dish of Chicken Liver Risotto or Smoked Trout Cannelloni ? there is something to suit every occasion, from mid-week family meals to cooking for special events and celebrations. The recipes are described step by step, so that perfect results can be achieved every time, and vibrant photographs show cooks how the finished dish should look. Each dish is also accompanied by nutritional information, including carbohydrate, fat and sodium content, to enable all food-lovers to easily plan a healthy diet.