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
The cookbooks that stay with us tell a story. A House Party in Tuscany is one to treasure. Delicious recipes from a region I love and a chef I admire.
— Ruth Rogers
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
I love this book. Amber Guinness is an inspired cook and hostess. More importantly, she really understands the culture, technique, and taste of Tuscan cooking .
— Loyd Grossman
A truly beautiful book with food as colorful as paintings and thoughtful menus guided by the Tuscan seasons.
— Emiko Davies
Having thoroughly enjoyed my dear friend Amber Guinness’s hosting for almost two decades I’m thrilled she finally decided to jot down her methods and recipes on paper. It’s a joy to cook from and has already provided me with a range of new go-to dishes. Her writing is also a beautiful account of growing up in Italy.
— Beata Heuman
Romance and joie de vivre come across in Guinness’s debut cookbook, A House Party in Tuscany…part cookbook, part memoir, and part ode to the art of entertaining.
— Air Mail
Contributors
Amber Guinness
Author
Amber Guinness is a cook and food writer who lives in Florence, Italy. She was born in London but raised in Arniano, the Tuscan farmhouse her parents restored near Siena. She has a master’s degree in history and Italian from the University of Edinburgh and has worked as a cook in both London and Italy. Amber’s first book, A House Party in Tuscany, featured recipes and stories from her internationally acclaimed residential painting school in Arniano. Her second book, Italian Coastal, was a journey in food along the Tuscan coast. Winter in Tuscany is her third book. Amber is married with a son.
