Heartland Italian cooking from a much-loved South Island group of restaurants.

Francesca's Italian Kitchen is a popular South Island restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine. This cookbook presents Francesca's popular pasta, pizza and traditional Italian dishes and desserts adapted for the home kitchen and using local NZ ingredients. Co-owner Francesca Voza says she is continually being asked when she will be releasing a cookbook - so here it is! She has restaurants in Wanaka, Christchurch, Dunedin and Timaru, and they are in the process of expanding further.

Former Whare Kea Lodge executive chef James Stapley is Francesca's partner in the business and has been involved in the writing and preparation of the recipes. The book is peppered with photos taken on his and Francesca's annual excursion to the south of Italy, where Francesca's family originally came from.

There are approximately 80 recipes spanning pasta, pizza, antipasti, and mains such as lamb shoulder ragu, and roasted pork hock with a cannellini bean salad. There are also fabulous dolci (desserts) and tempting cocktails.

There are also gorgeous spreads of photos taken in the Wanaka area.