An Italian cookbook specially written for Hong Kong cooks

This recent book’s long but descriptive subtitle reads, “Over 80 delicious recipes inspired by a personal journey from my grandmothers’ kitchens, through the markets of Hong Kong, to the tables of celebrated Italian chefs.” From the titles you can guess the author, Aira Sasso, is Italian, lives in Hong Kong and has worked with famous chefs.

To briefly expand on the first and third points, Sasso is originally from Milan, and the chefs she’s worked with include Pino Lavarra, of Tosca at the Ritz-Carlton, in West Kowloon; Luca de Berardinis, of Nicholini’s at the Conrad, in Admiralty; Andrea Spagoni, at Beefbar, in Central; and many in Italy.

The second point will likely be of more interest to Hong Kong readers, because the recipes have been tailored just for us.

“The seed of this book was planted several years ago, when I decided, almost on a whim, to put together for my friends in Hong Kong a collection of recipes of Italian dishes they had enjoyed at my home. As I started to pull them together, carefully writing out lists of ingredients and tran­scribing cooking techniques, I found myself recalling my frustration when I was a new­comer to the city and could not find many of the things I needed. Too many of my recipes, as well as those found in the books on the shelves of any Hong Kong bookstore, were of little use because I simply couldn’t find the ingredients,” writes Sasso.

“It was then that I decided my book had to be different. It should not just be a collection of recipes but should also provide useful insights into making the experience of cooking Italian food in Hong Kong an easier one. It would be my gift to my Hong Kong friends and the city that had welcomed me.”