Garganelli.... wow! Chef mentioned to me seven pieces to a portion, after spending 15minutes doing one portion I realised it wasn't as easy as chef had demonstrated to me earlier. 22 portions later chef pre-dressed a dish of the garganelli pre-service so we all knew how it should look.

This is a recipe that makes a small amount of crab meat go a long way. The addition of the tomatoes and courgettes makes the flavor much sweeter and really brings out the taste of fresh crab meat. If you can get hold of a crab and cook it yourself then the result will be much better but you can get a good result with picked pasteurised crab meat.

Some 100 lobsters a week, 20 guinea fowl, 40 wild rabbit and that's just the prep before I've even started making the pasta which has to be fresh every service. So getting all that achieved whilst Angela Hartnett was in the kitchen with a film crew and James Martin wondering around was intimidating and inspiring...

This is a really easy way to make a delicious pasta dish. Making your own pesto is very simple, satisfying, and much cheaper than you think. After you try this recipe you will always make it yourself. Pair with a glass of Vermentino. Happy cooking and enjoy the weekend!

Coppa di Parma is a ham made from the shoulder of the pig, rather than the leg. It has a fairly high fat content so it's very versatile and usually very reasonably priced. The combination of salty, fatty, coppa with the sweet prawns and lots of parsley creates a beautiful flavour.

This is an all year favourite for me. The ingredients can vary depending on what's available, but the mix of fish, tomatoes, and chilli makes for a bright and flavourful dish. Open a bottle of Pinot Bianco (riserva if you can find) and enjoy the weekend.

This pasta dish is one of my all time favourites. It is quick and delicious, which makes it a perfect Friday night dish.

Whether you are back to work this week or enjoying one last weekend of respite, my penne with zucchini and prosciutto dish will be a welcome pick-me-up. It is quick and easy, and pairs well with a glass of verdicchio from le Marche - this beautiful white wine is perfect.

Spaghetti carbonara is another classic Italian dish and a consistent crowd pleaser. This is an incredibly quick recipe, but the secret to success is in the consistency, the pasta to sauce ratio, and the quality of ingredients.

Cooking for one or two people is expensive, time-consuming and irritating. (Unless you are making pasta, in which case obviously it is a joy). My friend Alex has come up with his own solution: he buys, religiously, 3 Waitrose whole cooked roast chickens.

University of Adelaide researchers are working with colleagues in Italy to produce better quality pasta that also adds greater value to human health. ...

I thought a special tagliatelle con asparagi, crème fraîche, egg and parmesan would be a great addition to the Olympic 2012 celebrations this weekend.

As we all know, the school break can be either completely fantastic or a nightmare! I have some great ideas for things that will keep the kids entertained in the kitchen the Italian way.