Tucked away on an estate in the countryside south of Palermo is the Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School, a unique center dedicated to preserving and sharing the great food culture of Sicily. The spirit of the school, now run by Fabrizia Lanza, the founder’s daughter and scion of a renowned family of winemakers that goes back generations, is what makes Lanza’s The Food of Sicily such a singular cookbook—not just a collection of recipes and techniques, but a vibrant and beautifully photographed profile of the land, the people, the history, and so much more.

On every page, in every recipe and note, the author captures the distinct taste of Sicily. Along the way, the author delves into everything from cheese, couscous, and olives to Amaro and the importance of bitterness.

Visitors to Sicily often sense it to be a place unlike anywhere else—lost in time and a little bit secretive. This book opens a bright window on it, celebrating this wonderful food culture while honoring everything that makes it special.