20 Amici - 40 Ricette (20 Friends -- 40 Recipes): Friends and Food from the Heart of Chianti - Hardcover

by John Bersani (Author), Nico Schinco (Photographer)

WIRED Top 10 Cookbooks of 2025

"This book's magic lies in its ability to teach you these dishes and turn you into an armchair Gaiole-in-Chianti townsperson." --WIRED

Truly experience the Chianti region--with over 40 authentic Tuscan recipes and stories from locals who will feel like friends.

Discover what it's like to not only eat in Tuscany, but also how it feels to live there. With traditional Tuscan recipes, heartwarming stories, and insider's tips from local chefs and family cooks in 20 Amici - 40 Ricette you'll learn--and taste--why that translates to 20 Friends, 40 Great Recipes.

Feel like you're wandering the streets of Gaiole, a Tuscan village named "One of Europe's Most Idyllic Places to Live" by Forbes, as you meet local chefs who share their stories and recipes, from a creamy Risotto Semplice (basic risotto) to a tantalizing Branzino al Forno (whole roasted Mediterranean sea bass). Bring a taste of authentic Italian cooking to your kitchen and a touch of Tuscany to your home with the tales from locals who will feel like friends.

"Rather than centering himself, Bersani centers his friends. This isn't just a cookbook about Italian food. It's about what makes Italian food culture so magnetic." --Food52

"Seductive and illuminating, 20 Amici, 40 Ricette is a culinary introduction to the delicious life at the heart of the Chianti region."--Foreword Reviews

"One of the most stunning cookbooks I've ever seen."--Meryl Feinstein, founder of Pasta Social Club and author of Pasta Every Day

20 Amici - 40 Ricette is an Italian cookbook that offers the complete Italian experience:

- Taste & See Chianti, Tuscany--More than 80 stunning photographs of street markets, homemade dishes, and more take you on a journey that looks as real as it tastes.

- A Local Perspective--Written by a longtime resident of the charming village of Gaiole, this Italian cookbook includes tips and tricks that come from a lifetime of experience.

- Beautiful Display--The eye-catching glossy hardcover looks great on any shelf, and is made to hold up after countless nights of amazing Italian cooking.

Take your family and friends on a culinary journey to Tuscany with 20 Amici - 40 Ricette.

More Praise for 20 Amici - 40 Ricette:

"Just when you think there can't possibly be anything left to discover about the food and culture of Tuscany . . . here comes John Bersani with an alluring personal tribute to the place, its cuisine, and most of all, its people." --Domenica Marchetti, author of The Glorious Pasta of Italy and Preserving Italy

Author Biography

John Bersani is a writer, teacher, and passionate advocate of Italian food, wine, and culture. A second-generation Italian-American with roots in his grandparents' kitchen, John's cooking philosophy has been shaped by more than 20 years of living in a small hilltop town in central Tuscany. When he's not in the kitchen, chances are John is off sharing his inside knowledge of the Tuscan countryside with small bespoke tour groups, discovering new culinary inspiration up and down the Italian boot, or spending time with his wife and three adult children. John is the author of 20 Amici-40 Ricette: Friends and Food from the Heart of Chianti and a founder of Avventura Trips. He and his wife, Cyndy, split their time between Gaiole-in-Chianti, Italy, and Snowmass Village, Colorado. Learn more at www.20amici40ricette.com.

Nico Schinco is a NYC-based photographer continuously inspired by good food, people and travel. Work that is clean, natural and simple his photography can be found in Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, The New York Times and more. When not taking photographs, he spends time trying different vermouths, helping out at his family's bar, and visiting his grandparents who live down the street.