Italian food. You either love it or you really love it. From all the cuisines of the world, Italian is the one that makes people smile. It makes you feel the comfort of home in every spoonful and every bite. It gives you a hug and reminds you that life is for living. And for recognizing that the simplest things often bring the greatest joy. Authentic Italian food is special. Even magical. To reveal the mystery of why Italian food is so good, we had a conversation with renowned Chef Cesare Casella.

Born in Tuscany, Casella grew up (literally) in the restaurant business. His parents owned a trattoria in Lucca, but becoming a chef wasn’t smooth sailing. Against the wishes of his parents, he shunned other career paths in favor of cooking, letting his passion guide him. And the world was better for it. After his parents’ restaurant received a Michelin star, Casella decided to move to New York where he opened critically acclaimed restaurants, wrote several books, appeared in numerous TV shows, and oversaw the training of chefs at the International Culinary Center.