Antonio Carluccio: A Recipe for Life

Antonio Carluccio is a larger-than-life character who, over his fifty-year career, has inspired thousands of people with his no-fuss Italian cooking and passion for good food and wine. But behind the famous name is a man whose life has been full of unexpected twists and turns, joy and sadness, love and loss.

Born on the Amalfi Coast in the South of Italy in 1937, Antonio’s taste buds were first awakened by his mamma’s frugal yet delicious home cooking. In A Recipe for Life Antonio recounts his childhood in Italy, to the joys brought from cooking simple suppers for friends on a two-ring stove in Vienna, and his career as a well-respected chef.

A self-taught cook, Antonio arrived in London in the 1970s with nothing more than a suitcase and his dog. By the 1990s he had risen to fame as the founder of one of the UK’s most prominent restaurant brands, and was by now a prolific author and accomplished television presenter.

Despite his success, Antonio has never forgotten his humble beginnings or the women, who next to food, have been the biggest influence on his life. This is a story of commitment, drive and the ingredients needed to succeed. Throughout the text are the recipes that have formed the touchstones of his life, and the foreword is by Michelin starred chef Raymond Blanc. Brimming with vibrant anecdotes as well as photographs from his personal collection, A Recipe for Life is Antonio Carluccio’s moving and honest account of his life so far.

Watch the book trailer for Antonio Carluccio: A Recipe for Life here