David Rocco's Dolce Vita

The Palio di Siena is the most famous horse race in the world. It’s certainly the oldest*! It’s a centuries-old festival that combines neighbourhood rivalries, pageants and of course, food! David is invited to the Contrada del Bruco — one of the competing districts — where some 1,500 supporters get together for a pre-race dinner. Naturally, David rolls up his sleeves and gets to work in the kitchen.

David spends time at agriturismo La Selva just outside of Siena, where owner Carlotta Pometti, one of the youngest winemakers in Italy, and her family host guests from all over the world. It’s the 4th of July weekend, so David helps out with the cooking to prepare a feast for some of the American guests. The result is an unforgettable Italian-inspired American spread.

Florence is the birthplace of gelato, so naturally, that’s where David meets up with top gelato maker Vetulio Bondi. Together, they explore the combination of sweet and savoury using ice cream and discover some pretty novel creations. David continues the great gelato experiment at a local bar where he reinvents some classic Italian cocktails like Negroni and Aperol Spritz using ice cream.

Did you know there’s a little India in Florence? Neither did David! He meets up with Eduardo and Selvaggia, two Indophiles living in Firenze — one is the owner of the city’s first Indian restaurant, the other founded Florence’s Indian film festival — and together they explore Florence’s small but vibrant Indian community. And of course, David shares some of his Indo-Italian recipes along the way.

Did you know there’s a little India in Florence? Neither did David! He meets up with Eduardo and Selvaggia, two Indophiles living in Firenze — one is the owner of the city’s first Indian restaurant, the other founded Florence’s Indian film festival — and together they explore Florence’s small but vibrant Indian community. And of course, David shares some of his Indo-Italian recipes along the way.

Nicola Bertinelli is an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word. Since taking over his family’s dairy farm to produce his own Parmigiano-Reggiano, he’s expanded the business to include a store, a coffee bar, a deli, and you won’t believe what happens at night … it turns into a full-fledged disco with a poolside bar where thousands of locals come to party! David meets with the man himself to hear his story and make delicious food with this world-famous cheese.