Few farmhouses in Tuscany are as magical as Arniano. Bought and restored in the 1980s by an English couple, this 18th-century ruin, surrounded by staggering beauty as far as the eye can see, became synonymous with delicious food and sparkling company.
At Arniano, their daughter, Amber Guinness, found a passion for cooking and established The Arniano Painting School with cofounder William Roper Curzon. A marriage of food and art, the school celebrates Amber’s cooking and hosting skills and William’s talents for imparting his knowledge and passion for painting.
Showcasing inviting and lush photography of the farmhouse’s interiors and exteriors alongside mouthwatering images of simple and flavorful dishes, A House Party in Tuscany collects recipes from 30 years of cooking and hosting at Arniano, exemplifying fundamental principles of Italian home cooking.
With essential ingredients for an Italian pantry; feast curation; menu suggestions for every season; notes on Italian wines; day trips from Arniano; tricks and rules for cooking that can be applied to any lunch or dinner party, whatever the season; guidelines to seemingly effortless cooking and hosting, this is a book to make everyone feel welcome.
Reviews
[An] enchanting look at cooking in the Italian countryside… Guinness provides readers recipes for creating their own culinary escapes… Life under the Tuscan sun proves exceptionally dreamy in this alluring collection.
— Publishers Weekly
A stunning book in every way. Amber Guinness paints such a dreamy, evocative picture of her home in the Tuscan countryside and of the sumptuous feasts she cooks there. I long to be there with her and to eat everything in this book.
— Skye McAlpine
A truly beautiful book with food as colorful as paintings and thoughtful menus guided by the Tuscan seasons.
— Emiko Davies
Contributors
Amber Guinness
Author
Amber Guinness was born in London and grew up in Tuscany. She studied history and Italian literature at the University of Edinburgh, working as a cook in both London and Italy in her spare time. In 2014, she cofounded the Arniano Painting School, a residential painting holiday designed to breathe life back into her family home after her father's death. These artists' retreats are centered around creativity and food, and have been featured in The New York Times, House & Garden, and various other international magazines. Amber now lives in Florence. A House Party in Tuscany was her first book.