Ep 2. Italian Cocktail Party

Giada in Italy season 1 episode 2, titled "Italian Cocktail Party," takes viewers into the heart of Italian cocktail culture. Host Giada De Laurentiis is on a mission to learn about the country's most popular cocktails and create new ones inspired by the flavors and ingredients of Italy.

In this episode, Giada travels to two different regions in Italy - Siena and Rome - to discover the secrets behind two iconic Italian cocktails: the Negroni and the Spritz.

Giada begins her journey in Siena, a city known for its medieval architecture and picturesque landscapes. She meets up with Lorenzo Richichi, a bartender at Bar il Palio - a quaint bar located in the Piazza del Campo, the main square of Siena. Lorenzo is an expert in the art of making the Negroni, a classic Italian cocktail that is made with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari.

Lorenzo takes Giada through the step-by-step process of making the perfect Negroni, starting with the selection of ingredients. He explains how the botanicals used in gin and the bitter flavor of Campari work together to create a harmonious blend of flavors that is both refreshing and satisfying. Giada watches as Lorenzo expertly mixes the ingredients together, garnishes the glass with orange peel, and serves up a delicious Negroni.

Next, Giada heads to Rome, where she meets up with Marco Russo, a renowned mixologist at the Freni e Frizioni bar in the Trastevere neighborhood. Marco teaches Giada how to make the perfect Spritz, a popular Italian cocktail that is typically made with sparkling wine, Aperol or Campari, and soda water.

Giada learns that the key to making a great Spritz is a good quality sparkling wine that is not too sweet, and the right balance of bitterness from the Campari or Aperol. She watches as Marco skillfully mixes the ingredients together, adds a slice of orange, and serves up a refreshing and easy-to-drink Spritz.

Back in her own kitchen, Giada puts her own spin on these classic Italian cocktails. She combines the flavors of a Negroni with peach puree and sparkling wine to create a Peach Negroni Spritz, and mixes together passion fruit, blood orange juice, and a splash of Campari to create a tangy and exotic Passion Fruit Spritz.

Throughout the episode, Giada showcases the versatility of Italian ingredients and the creativity of Italian cocktail culture. From the classic Negroni to the refreshing Spritz, viewers will learn about the different ways in which Italian cocktails can be enjoyed and adapted.