Pranzo: Sicilian(ish) Recipes & Stories by Guy Mirabella

STAFF REVIEW

Guy’s cookbook is a delightful journey through both nostalgia and flavour. With each page, he weaves heartfelt childhood stories of growing up on the Mornington Peninsula, offering a personal glimpse into his life while also sharing his delicious recipes. His writing not only transports you to the past but inspires you to recreate his mouthwatering dishes in your own kitchen. The gnocchi on page 54 is a standout recipe that I highly recommend—it’s a true reflection of the quality and taste that Guy is known for. If you had the pleasure of dining at Guy’s café, you’ll appreciate how wonderful it is to bring that exceptional flavour into your home. This cookbook is a must-have for anyone who loves good food and meaningful stories.

Reviewed by Juz

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Pranzo is a celebration of Italian food and a Sicilian upbringing on the other side of the world – capturing the spirit of simplicity, fresh seasonal ingredients and sumptuous colours and flavours. Guy Mirabella masterfully weaves his recipes, images and stories around the themes of generosity, love, tradition, life and food – all the things that influence him in his cooking.

Fresh and seasonal dishes are prepared with love and respect for the ingredients. From Ruby Red Roasted Plums with Marsala and Vincotto to Eggs in Purgatory with Broccolini via clam soups, hazelnut cakes, sfingi, rabbit stew, Chicken Diavola and more – this is both rustic food to nourish and stir the soul but also beautiful food to linger over and share with loved ones. All of it presented in captivating style with an artist’s eye for everything that is vibrant, colourful and joyous about life.&

Throughout the recipes, personal reflections on food, family, travels and Guy’s Sicilian heritage are complemented by stunning photography and design. A story of growing up at Cumbrae Farm on the Mornington Peninsula and of an ancestry that informed his attitudes to food and life, this is a book to explore and fall in love with. And to cook from, again and again.

About the Author: As one of Australia’s most highly regarded book designers of the 1990s Guy Mirabella left his fingerprints everywhere, including on seminal cookbooks bearing the names of Stephanie Alexander, Christine Manfield and Charmaine Solomon. In 2002 Guy opened Shop Ate Cafe & Store in Mount Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula, which he ran for 20 years before selling the business in December 2022.

04 Mar 2025

Pranzo: Sicilian(ish) Recipes & Stories by Guy Mirabella ISBN 9781761450907