Two signed copies of Massimo Bottura's new book up for grabs!

The Staff Canteen is giving away two signed copies of Massimo Bottura’s new book ‘Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef’. The competition opens on November 20, so stay-tuned for your chance to win.

Massimo Bottura is the chef patron of Osteria Francescana, a three Michelin star restaurant based in Modena, Italy. He grew up in Modena and developed an interest in cooking after watching his Mother, Grandmother and Aunt in the kitchen preparing family meals. In 1986 he left a law degree to open his first restaurant before going on to develop his love of food with stages for Alain Ducasse and Ferran Adriá. He opened Osteria Francescana in 1995 and it is now ranked third in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and the number one restaurant in Italy.

Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef is a tribute to Massimo’s twenty-five year career. It takes the reader into the Osteria Francescana kitchen, providing an insight into the evolution of the restaurant and its dishes. The book is divided into four chapters. Each one examines a different period in the development of Bottura’s ideas and the journey of the restaurant. The book is filled with nostalgia, self-mockery and irony, ending with an imaginary journey called ‘Come to Italy with Me’ which encourages the reader to rediscover Italy and its food with fresh eyes and an open mind.

The book features 50 recipes with beautifully written narratives explaining Massimo’s philosophy, inspirations, ingredients and techniques. He reveals the stories behind his dishes and how he pushes the boundaries of tradition. Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef will not only appeal to food-lovers, but anyone who is curious to challenge their preconceptions about Italian cooking.