Mediterranean diet Archives

Bean Panzanella Salad excerpted from Lido: Recipes and Stories from Italy’s Beach Clubs. Text © 2026 Melissa Pellegrino and Matthew Scialabba. Photography © 2026 Melissa Pellegrino and Matthew Scialabba.

An intoxicating tour of Italian Lidos with lush photography, recipes and more, from some of the most sought-after beach clubs in Italy.

Brightly coloured umbrellas dance in the wind, above matching sun beds in the same bold hues. The crystal blue water shimmers in the background and gently laps against the pebble beaches. Bronzed, glistening bodies dot the landscape. Like most things Italian, there is an art to a day at the beach.

Lido is a transporting exploration of the history, culture, and food of Italian beach clubs. Part 1 invites you to the clubs along the whole of the Italian coast. Part 2 shares over 60 recipes from appertivi to dolci. Living la dolce vita has never been easier with recipes for Pinsa with Ricotta and Mortadella, Lobster Risotto, Puglian Bruschetta with Marinated Summer Squash, and Pavlova with Fior Di Latte Cream.

A Journey through Italy’s Beach Clubs
Coastal-Inspired Italian Recipes
On-Location Photography throughout Italy
Italian Vacation Inspiration

Grab your towel and find your spot under the umbrella. The salty, sweet air and azure waters of the beach clubs await. (more…)

Mixed Pasta with Basil Pesto and Tuna excerpted from Eat Like a Sardinian: Live to 100 by Francesco Mattana. Photography © Dave Brown 2026.

Eat Like a Sardinian: Live to 100 by Francesco Mattana

“More than just a cookbook – it’s a love letter to Sardinia” – Jamie Oliver

An exciting debut cookbook from a rising star in the world of Italian cooking!

Sardinia captures the true spirit of Mediterranean cooking. Here, you find a way of life filled with simple, fresh, seasonal ingredients, healthy fats and plenty of time spent cooking, eating and spending time with loved ones. Sardinia is, after all, one of only five designated “blue zones” in the world – where people live longer than anywhere else.

In Eat Like a Sardinian, chef Francesco Mattana invites you to discover the rich and varied food culture of the island, bringing together his experiences learning to cook from the women around him and years of teaching at Jamie Oliver’s Cookery School to create authentic, delicious home cooking recipes that everyone can master, with all the tips and tricks needed to get them right every time. Find the perfect small bite for your aperitivo hour, stock up your pantry with preserves, perfect your pasta and bread-making skills, learn how to entertain the Sardinian way with impressive fish, meat and vegetable dishes and finish it all off with a traditional dolci. Who knew healthy living could be so sweet?

Recipes include Francesco’s viral spaghetti al pomodoro, Italian lemon tart, roasted lamb with artichokes and potatoes, bruschetta with figs, and the “live to 100” minestrone.

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