The volcanic island of Ischia, in the gulf of Naples, is a popular tourist destination known for its hot springs and amazing food. David joins the locals for the celebration of the Spring Equinox, where for the entire long weekend, people cook, eat and celebrate!
What makes a great pizza, or pizza Margherita? Is it the rich, sweet flavour of the San Marzano tomato sauce, the right amount of creamy buffalo mozzarella, the fresh hit of basil or the perfect balance of all three? David spends time with Gino Sorbillo, whose family has one of Naples' oldest pizzerias, in the hopes of uncovering the secret to making the best pizza in the world. He also tries some classic Neapolitan street food, pizza fritta and pizza a portafoglio, and helps teach a group of children the art of making and eating pizza.
Napoli is a vibrant city packed with markets, restaurants and street vendors. Which means, that Napoli has a street food scene that can’t be beat! Egidio, a local food blogger, shows David the ins and outs of food that you can eat anywhere. From the delicious and massive pannini to the not so tasty pigs feet, he experiences everything from meatballs to octopus tea to classic dessert!
Did you know it was possible to cook with the steam from a volcano? David returns to his roots and visits Pozzuoli, a small town just outside Naples where his father was born. There he meets Marianna Vitale, a Michelin Star chef who takes David on a cultural food tour including a visit to the Solfatara Volcano, an active crater, where they cook seafood to perfection in this unconventional way. David spends the rest of his trip catching octopus with the locals and then cooks it up for his relatives.
The town of Casserta, just outside Naples, is home to some of the best Buffalo Mozzarella in the world. David takes a tour of the dairy with Rosanna, whose passion for the soft, creamy cheese borders on the obsessive. After cooking up some gourmet cheese dishes, he heads back to Naples to try something completely different: Mozzarella sushi.
David spends time with the Mattiucci Brothers who are known in Naples for their independent fishing operation. From trolling the gulf of Naples for the freshest catch to serving up their famous crudo from the Mattiucci fish shop in Napoli’s trendiest neighbourhood, David learns the ins and outs of the business and the family that runs it.
David travels just off the coast of Naples to the island of Procida, a place untouched by time, where he takes a walking tour from a local named Mr. Time. On the Island David does exactly what the locals do: takes a donkey ride to port and dives for sea urchins for his afternoon lunch. The next day is spent at sea with Maria and her sons. When they return, they cook up a seafood feast for that evening’s dinner in the piazza.
In Naples, coffee is a world onto itself, both culturally and socially. Dark, bittersweet shots of espresso drunk quickly and with purpose is part the Neapolitan’s daily routine. In this episode, David explores the Naples coffee culture and experiments with espresso in the kitchen, making everything pizza friters, gnocchi with coffee and of course a coffee dessert.
The island of Capri is known for its natural beauty, gorgeous hotels and luxury shopping. It's been a popular holiday spot for glamorous jet-setters and tourists alike for years. David visits his friends at the hotel San Felice and gets the true Capri treatment – a boat tour around the island – all the while finding local culinary hotspots along the way.
Naples is a city thriving with culture – and not just food culture. Music is all around the city, so it’s no surprise that David meets one of Itay's top folk singers, Pietra Montecorvino. Pietra invites David into her world where they cook some traditional dishes while her musician friends jam around them.
The Palio del Casale, or Donkey Race, brings thousands of spectators and partiers to the town of Camposano. It’s a weekend-long party based around old Italian tradition and light competition between neighboring towns, regions, and even countries. Amidst the music, great food and drink, David learns what it’s really like to be a donkey jockey, and represents Canada in the race – with exciting results.
In Naples, soccer isn’t just a sport, it’s a religion, and their fans are world renowned for their dedication, enthusiasm and creativity. David spends a Sunday with S.S.C. Napoli supporters, taking in the sights, sounds and foods (of course!) at Stadio San Paolo.
David meets his buddy Gianluca, who invites him to his families hometown of San Gregorio Armeno, a small town 90 minutes outside Naples. For five days straight, David, Gianluca and his family eat drink and celebrate family tradition, making tomato sauce, and hunting for truffles.