Bonacini's Italy (2018 - 2019)

Le Marche is a small, lesser known region in the middle of Italy and its cuisine draws on influences from both the North and South. Chef Michael Bonacini highlights these influences by starting off with Stuffed Artichokes. Filled with a savoury mixture of prosciutto, Pecorino, and breadcrumbs and drizzled with white wine, these artichokes are truly to-die-for. Next, Michael bakes up an Italian classic with a regional twist - Marche-style Lasagna. This rich, woodsy dish is different from popular lasagna because it's full of Italian mushrooms, cream, and briny pancetta. For his secondo, Fish Stew Ancona Style. Made with a medley of fresh seafood, this dish often features thirteen different kinds of fish. To finish, Michael cooks up one of his favourite beef dishes - Beef Tournedos Rossini. Invented in France, but perfected in Le Marche, this flavourful beef dish is tender, hearty, and delectable.

Charming host Michael Bonacini delves into the secluded Italian region of Abruzzo. First up, a Farro and Vegetable Salad made with seasonal vegetables that is great on its own or as a side dish. Next, Michael crafts Rolled Meat Crepes. Loaded with meat and cheese, this savoury crepe dish is one of Abruzzo's scrumptious specialties. For his secondo, Michael prepares a protein commonly found in Abruzzo's mountainous region: lamb. Cooked with delicious egg and Pecorino, this lamb is simple, yet juicy and flavourful. Michael concludes his meal by baking a delightful Italian dolce - Sweet Half-Moon Pastries. Using a popular flaky pastry made all over Italy, Michael gives this dish the Abruzzo flare with delightful filling featuring sweet grape jelly, crunchy almond, and chunks of chocolate.

Puglia is known as the "bread basket" of Italy because it's where most of Italy's wheat is grown; it also means the region cultivates delicious pasta, bread, and pizza dough. Chef Michael Bonacini starts off with a creamy, golden-brown Artichoke Cheese Panzerotti. Rich, warm, and full of flavour, this panzerotti will have you adding extras to your plate. For his primo, Michael makes a classic Apulian pasta dish - Orecchiette with Rapini. Michael uses his thumb to shape the homemade pasta into little ears, then cooks a sweet garlic and spicy chili sauce that plays off the sharpness of the rapini. Next, Michael's simple secondo features juicy pork ribs with the fresh flavours of mint and lime. Finally, delicate, crispy Christmas treats - Fried Pastry Wheels. Covered in a subtle fig syrup, this simple dolce is crunchy, sweet, and ever-tasty.

The diverse Calabrian landscape makes for a variety of unique dishes. Captivating host Michael Bonacini starts by making Stuffed Focaccia bread featuring two of the region's specialties: Ca-ciocavallo cheese and cured Soppressata meat. Next up, Michael makes a spicy Calabrian-style Tuna inspired by the coastline of Calabria. Then, Michael treks into the Sila region of Calabria where dense woods and snow-capped peaks influence the Calabrian love for pork. Cooked low and slow with starchy potatoes and woodsy mushrooms, this secondo is warm, hearty, and delicious. For Michael's dolce, a sumptuous cake with the sweet, fresh taste of orange called Ciambella All'Arancia.

Famous for its beautiful coastline, Campania is home to many popular Italian seafood dishes. Chef Michael Bonacini's delicious antipasto is light, crunchy, and influenced by the sea. From shrimp to scallops to squid seasoned with fresh sage, this deceptively simple dish will impress your dinner guests. For his primo, Michael makes Campania's most beloved dish said to be invented in its capital, Naples - Margherita Pizza. This uncomplicated, thin-crust pizza features sweet tomatoes, white Buffalo mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves for a crispy, flavourful bite. Then, briny clams mingle with starchy potatoes in a Campania favourite called Spaghetti Alle Vongole or Spaghetti with Clams. Finally, Michael moves to Campania's inland where wild boar is a popular protein. Richer and leaner than pork, wild boar has a unique flavour and Michael cooks this dish with apples to bring out the sweetness of the meat.

Surrounded by the brilliant blue waters of three different seas, seafood is an important part of Sicilian cuisine. Chef Michael Bonacini stays true to this region by crafting Rice Balls Stuffed with Seafood. Creamy risotto shaped into little balls and stuffed with a shrimp and crabmeat filling, these bite-sized delights make a great antipasto. Keeping with the seafood trend, Michael then makes a smoky, sweet, and spicy Seafood Couscous with Italian sausage and medley of herbs and spices. For his secondo, Michael makes an Italian favourite with a Sicilian twist - Sweet and Sour Meatballs. These meatballs have raisins, pine nuts, and cinnamon for a unique taste. To finish, Sicily's (and maybe all of Italy's) most famous dessert: the cannoli. Michael chooses pistachio, a favourite nut in Sicily, to flavour this versatile treat.

The Italian region of Piemonte borders both France and Switzerland, in turn influencing its cuisine. First up, a fragrant oil fondue for veggies - Bagna Cauda. Host Michael Bonacini's version uses seasonal vegetables like licorice fennel, peppery endive, and soft zucchini with preserved anchovies for extra flavour. For his primo, Michael uses Arborio rice, mushrooms, and truffles from the Piemonte soil for a creamy Mushroom Risotto. Michael's next dish features two of Piemonte's favourite ingredients: tender beef and Barolo wine. A robust beef shoulder braised in Barolo wine and seasoned with a medley of aromatics is rich, complex, and ever-delicious. Finally, Chestnut Panna Cotta is the perfect finish for Michael's hearty Piemonte meal.

Cuisine in the Northern region of Lombardy is largely influenced by the mountains. Italy's famed wheat doesn't grow in the mountains, so Chef Michael Bonacini uses buckwheat to make crispy, deep-fried Buckwheat Fritters filled with ooey-gooey cheese. Next, Michael handcrafts a delicate pasta commonly made in Lombardy and fills it with a rich, flavourful filling of pumpkin, nutmeg, and Parmesan. For his secondo, a slow-braised veal shank served with a citrus and herb gremolata - delicious. To finish, Michael makes a special Lombardian Christmas dolce - Italian Nougat. A chewy candy made with firm egg yolk, honey or sugar, and roasted nuts, nougat is the perfect finish to a tasty Italian meal.

The Veneto region of Italy is located on the Northeastern side of the country and spills into the Adriatic Sea, which returns a bounty of fish and seafood. Host Michael Bonacini starts off with a local, fish favourite - Sweet and Sour Sardines. For his primo, Michael offers his take on a traditional, Venetian specialty featuring thick polenta and sweet garlic shrimp. For his secondo, Michael then makes Chicken Cacciatore with Radicchio Orange Salad. This dish is the perfect pairing - the bright Radicchio Orange Salad contrasts the rich depth of flavour from the many rustic Italian ingredients infused in the chicken. Lastly, Venetian legend has it that the popular Italian dessert, Tiramisu, was invented in Veneto. True or not, Michael carefully crafts the perfect Tiramisu for any occasion.

Once the heart of the Roman Empire and home to Rome and Vatican City, Lazio is an Italian region of hustle-and-bustle. But out in its pristine countryside, life is simpler. To start, Chef Michael Bonacini explores a simple, springtime bean dish, popular in Lazio's rustic rural areas - Mint Fava Bean Soup. For his primo, Michael goes metropolitan by cooking up a Roman favourite - Spaghetti Carbonara. This creamy pasta dish contains no cream and is made with eggs, cheese, and meat. Michael then makes Veal with Sage and Prosciutto. Rich, crispy and drizzled with a luxurious beef stock, butter, and Marsala wine sauce, this veal dish gives a hearty bite to any Italian meal. Finally, Michael stays true to Lazio by baking a soft cake made with ricotta and crispy, chewy, almond-flavoured biscuits called Amaretti.

Umbrian cuisine is simple - fresh, seasonal ingredients and a lot of cured meat. For his antipasto, Chef Michael Bonacini cooks a uniquely flavoured Umbrian Frittata using succulent vegetables, fresh herbs, Italian sausage, and crispy pancetta. He then offers an Umbrian take on Stuffed Pork Roast or Porchetta. Sprinkled with toasted fennel seeds for a licoricey flavour, be sure to get pieces of the fatty belly, chewy meat, and crispy skin on your fork for the perfect bite. Michael pairs the Porchetta with the perfect aromatic side dish - Warm Lentil Salad. To finish, Sweet Carnival Fritters are on the menu. These sticky fried dough balls are drizzled with sweet honey and commonly served at the massive, month-long, Italian winter celebration Carnevale.

Liguria is one of the smallest regions in Italy. Hugging the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, it is home to the glittering Italian Riviera and tasty dishes. For an antipasto, Chef Michael Bonacini prepares a soft, creamy chickpea flour flatbread called Farinata, that he tops with rosemary and crispy shallots. His pasta dish is a Ligurian specialty - decorative and delicious hand-stamped pasta coins. He tops the pasta with another iconic Ligurian invention: pesto. Basil and pine nuts crushed with olive oil and hard cheese is the perfect topper for any kind of pasta. And in Liguria, they love their fish, so Michael shows viewers how to make a salt-crusted snapper that's a wow at any dinner party. Finally, Michael whips up succulent veal stuffed with herbs and covered in a rich sauce.

Some of the most famous Italian ingredients come from the Emilia Romagna region: parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, and Parma ham. It's the culinary heart of Italy. Chef Michael Bonacini begins his regional feast with a flaky pie stuffed with savoury pancetta, spinach, and swiss chard. Next, he makes a rich and delicious Bolognese sauce - a pasta topping so famous in Italy, they often just refer to it as 'sauce'. Then, Michael highlights one of the region's most famous exports: balsamic vinegar. He shows us how to make succulent balsamic chicken, and even uses the reduction as a dressing for a side of grilled radicchio. And for a decadent dessert, he bakes a dense chocolate cake filled with spices and nuts called Pampepato.

In the northeast of Italy lies the majestic Dolomite mountain range, where you will find the region Trentino-Alto Adige. Renowned Chef Michael Bonacini begins his culinary tour in his kitchen with a starter of asparagus with a creamy, tangy egg sauce. Next, he shows viewers how the influence from nearby Austria plays out in the region's cuisine with a hearty bread dumpling topped with the Italian version of sauerkraut. From there, Michael cooks a sumptuous secondo of quail stuffed with sausage, cabbage, and apples, and served alongside plums drenched in red wine and spices. And for dessert, Michael showcases the famous fruit of the region: apples. Every home in Trentino-Alto Adige has their own version of Michael's apple cake flavoured with cinnamon and almond.