Ciao Italia

Mary Ann travels to La Sosta del Rosselino, a small restaurant near Florence, Italy to discover the secret of chef/owner Damiano's signature Potato gnocchi; simple to make, soft as clouds, drifting in a butter sauce and utterly unforgettable. Inspired, Mary Ann goes nella cucina to create - just as heavenly - Gnocchi di Spinaci e Ricotta (Spinach and Ricotta Cheese Gnocchi).

Seafood Super Chef Jasper White brings enough freshly-caught clams to make two fantastic dishes, starting with Mary Ann's Spaghetti with Clams and ending with Jasper's unique and unforgettable, Clams Minestrone - yes, you heard right. Minestrone. One spoonful and you'll agree; fantastico!

It's Sunday when Mary Ann visits Christina and Carla Pallotta, two sisters who are the driving force behind Nebo Restaurant in Boston, MA, where they're preparing their mom's favorite recipes for visiting friends. Ricotta Gnocchi with Rabe and Pignola Nut Sauce, followed by Stuffed Breast of Veal, with Fontina Cheese, Polenta and Wild Mushrooms on the side. Great sisters. Lucky friends.

Good friend an attorney Ciro Poppiti visits Mary Ann nella cucina, with an ample supply of freshly made ricotta. They proceed to make a stupendous pastry-encased, Ricotta and Mozzarella cheese-stuffed masterpiece; Pizza Carnevale. Then Mary Ann takes up the baton and creates a light-as-a-cloud, orange-flavored Ricotta Cheesecake. Did somebody say "cheese?" Please.

Mayor of Boston, the late (and great) Thomas M. Menino and Mary Ann celebrate their Italian American heritage by preparing a Christmas Eve banquet called "The Feast of the Seven Fishes." Starting with Baccalà, then Skillet Fried Shrimp, then tuna, smelts, swordfish, calamari and clams, the tradition continues, and so do their appetites!

Mary Ann takes to the stage before a live audience with FoodTV Celebrity chef Robert Irvine and pastry wizard Chef Lynn Mansel to create an autumn-themed program. In between laughter and good natured teasing they create a hearty Minestrone, a Stuffed Turkey Breast with prosciutto di Parma. And Apple Carmel Bread Pudding.

Food writer and book author Laura Schenone brings a unique Ligurian recipe to Mary Ann's kitchen, where together they prepare delicate pasta wafers called Corzetti served in a delicate garlic and olive oil sauce. Mary Ann adds to the fun with Panzoti, an almond-stuffed little ravioli swimming in a butter sauce. Bravissima Laura e Marianna, e bravissima Liguria!

The medieval town of Gubbio, Italy is the site of Taverna del Lupo, the signature restaurant of master chef and hotel owner Rudolfo Mencarelli who prepares an elegant guinea hen dish with Mary Ann which inspires her to go nella cucina and add to the feast by creating a traditional Umbrian Spiedo Misto (Mixed Grill) of meat, poultry and pork perfect for the grill.

PBS celebrity Chef Martin Yan joins Mary Ann nella cucina in a salute to rice. With knives chopping and veggies sizzling, Martin creates one of his signature dishes, Mint Flavored Rice with Chicken while Mary Ann turns down the flame for Milanese Risotto. Then together they create a Rice and Vegetable Pie. Two great chefs, three great rice recipes and you'll agree that Mary Yan Can Cook!

Mary Ann returns to Azienda di Majo in Italy where vintner Alessio di Majo gives her quick tour of his farm's thousand acre field that's filled with tens of thousands of asparagus spears ready for harvest. They take what they need and go nella cucina del'Azienda to create three taste-tempting frittatas; Onion and Sweet Pepper, Asparagus, and Potato Frittata.

Pastry baker and cookbook author, Jim Dodge, brings his talents -- and almonds -- nella cucina to create his famous Almond Lemon Torta with Strawberries. Then he helps Mary Ann create her Almond Paste Cheesecake topped with luscious apricots. Along the way, Jim shares many secret tips to successful baking, including how to cut a perfect slice every time.

It isn't a holiday unless you're eating Torrone, a nut-filled, nougat candy that's hell on earth when it's not made right, but heaven on earth when it is. Mary Ann travels to Scialo Brothers Bakery in Providence, Rhode Island to find out how head baker, Horacio Garcia, creates heavenly torrone that's fit for the gods - and us.

Mary Ann visits Silvia and Anna Imperato, two dynamic sisters in Montevetrano, Italy. Silvia is a successful vintner while Anna is an equally accomplished chef. Mary Ann spends time with them both at their family estate, learning about Silvia's unique wine, then she helps Anna create a crunchy, Bruschetta topped with orange marmellatta and lardo, then a fresh Springtime Soup made from selvatica.

Mary Ann invites good friend, Dr. Kenneth Ciongoli nella cucina and together they prepare favorite foods they serve when having friends over for dinner. For Ken it's a hands down favorite; Bucatini all' Amatriciana. For Mary Ann, it's Quick Chicken Cacciatore. They agree on the perfect dessert, Mascarpone Cheesecake, to finish an impressive but simple meal.

There are cakes and there are CAKES. Paul and Anna Ciramitaro of Caffe Sicilia in Gloucester, Massachusetts, prepare an eye-popping Cassata guaranteed to satisfy the sweetest of sweet teeth. But just in case it doesn't, Mary Ann creates a pistachio pudding-filled Amarena Cake just to be sure you'll shout "basta!" (enough!)

Mary Ann visits good friend and great cook, Maria Pia in the land of the leaning tower - Pisa, Italy. Once in her kitchen, red mullet are sent swimming into a spicy tomato sauce. Hooked on seafood, Mary Ann goes nella cucina to create Caccuccio alla Livornese a fish stew filled with so much swordfish, shrimp, scallops, monkish and squid, there's hardly room for the herb-filled, tomato sauce.

Mary Ann's in a meatball mood and creates Polpette Toscane (Tuscan Meatballs) that calls for meat, mushrooms, parsley and - surprise - deep-frying. Then good friend, Lulu San Angelone, stops by to create Polpettine Della Nonna (Grandmother's meatballs) which are baked, not fried. See old familiar friends in a brand new way when two these two great cooks get together.

The crowned king of cheese is featured when food educator Nancy Radke joins Mary Ann nella cucina to create a table filled with delicious antipasti featuring Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Prosciutto di Parma ham, starting with Prosciutto di Parma Wrapped Fruit with Parmigiano Reggiano, Parmesan Cheese and Almond Wafers, and Spicy Fava Bean Spread.

Chef, cookbook author and radio talk show personality Arthur Schwartz, leaves his New York City microphone to travel to Mary Ann's kitchen where they prepare a bountiful Neapolitan meal together starting with Zucchini "Pyramids", then a Cod Fish and Potato Casserole to warm your soul and a finally a dessert called Babá to soothe your sweet tooth.

Father Jonathan DeFelice is a college president who loves to cook. Mary Ann joins him in the St. Anselm College's monastery kitchen to prepare two childhood favorites. First it's Struffoli, deep-fried, honey-coated sweet dough balls, dusted with hundreds-of-thousands. Then Mary Ann prepares crispy, deep-fried, sugar dusted Cenci. Let us give thanks.

Peter Scognamillo is one great baker and he's just a kid! When Mary Ann invites him to stop by nella cucina to make cookies, Peter brings his recipe for Maddalena Raspberry Cookies; two buttery, crisp wafers filled with raspberry jam. Then it's Mary Ann's turn, and she shows Peter how to make Almond Crisps. Open up that cookie jar!

Mary Ann travels to the Robert Pepi Winery in Napa, California to visit vintner, Marco Di Giulio who shows her how they make San Giovese wine just like they do in Italy. Mary Ann goes nella cucina to a braised beef dish in red wine called Brasato, from Lombardy, and the other a delicate chicken stuffed with spinach and Fontina cheese, cooked - in what else? White wine, of course.

Mary Ann visits good friend Lorenza Iori at her home in Reggio Emilia for Sunday dinner. But they have to make it first, including a hearty Risotto and Maiale al Latte (Pork in Milk). What to have for dessert is solved by a surprise visit from Cristiana Magnani who creates her signature Torta al Cioccolato, Chocolate Cake.

World-renowned pastry chef Nick Malgieri rolls up his sleeves nella cucina as he and Mary Ann exchange stories, tease each other, and have an entertaining time creating two masterpieces; Torta al Taglierini a pie-shaped, pastry noodle-topped chocolate cake and Torta Neri con le Noci (Chocolate Cake with Nuts) a classic Bolognese treat that's rich as Midas but light as a cloud.