Surprise! I'm back with a special bonus episode with the one and only 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 londons 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 asked to describe himself in 5 words he has said:“Italian, passionate, extroverted, loud and temperamentalWhen Jamie Oliver was asked what he learnt from Gennaro he said simply - “everything…heart, soul, romance, fantasy - every nice word you can say.”--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 for listening! We will be back soon with another season I promise.If you don't already and you would like to, then do come and follow me on Instagram @desertislanddishesYou can sign up for the newsletter and find a whole host of different recipes at www.desertislanddishes.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.