Ep 17. Nonna Luna's Recipe Diary: Chapter 2

Giada At Home season 4 episode 17, titled "Nonna Luna's Recipe Diary: Chapter 2," follows celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis as she delves deeper into her family's culinary history. The episode centers around De Laurentiis' grandmother, Nonna Luna, and the recipes she has passed down to her granddaughter.

De Laurentiis begins the episode by explaining how her family values tradition and the importance of preserving their Italian heritage through food. She then proceeds to revisit some of the recipes she learned from Nonna Luna during their last cooking session together. This includes a classic dish of spaghetti with red sauce and meatballs, which De Laurentiis re-creates in her own kitchen.

As De Laurentiis prepares the meal, she reminisces about how her grandmother used to make the meatballs by hand and the secret ingredient that gave them their unique flavor. She also shares tips on how to make the perfect red sauce, including how to choose the right tomatoes and spices.

Next up on the menu is Nonna Luna's famous fritto misto, or mixed fried seafood. De Laurentiis takes viewers through the steps of cleaning and preparing various types of seafood, such as shrimp and calamari, before frying them to golden perfection.

Throughout the episode, De Laurentiis interjects with personal anecdotes about her grandmother and the place food had in her family's life. She explains how Nonna Luna would keep a recipe diary, documenting every dish she made and the special occasions they were served on. De Laurentiis flips through the diary, sharing memories and photos of her family as she goes.

The final dish on the menu is Nonna Luna's recipe for a simple yet delicious dessert: a strawberry crostata. De Laurentiis shows viewers how to make the crust from scratch and how to create the perfect fruit filling using fresh strawberries and sugar.

As the episode comes to a close, De Laurentiis reflects on the significance of her family's food traditions and the role they have played in shaping her as a chef and a person. She emphasizes the importance of passing down recipes and memories to future generations, so that they too can experience the joy of creating and sharing food with loved ones.

Overall, "Nonna Luna's Recipe Diary: Chapter 2" is an intimate and heartfelt exploration of one family's culinary legacy. De Laurentiis' passion for food is evident throughout, and viewers are sure to come away inspired to try some of Nonna Luna's recipes for themselves.