Italian food in Los Angeles is having a moment. A city that once offered only Americanized versions of gooey chicken parm and supersize meatballs now boasts an array of both high-end and casual dining options that honor Italy’s diverse regions — with dishes from authentic Roman pasta to Neapolitan pizza. Last year alone brought an abundance of top-ranking Italian newcomers, and Giada De Laurentiis has an inkling as to why.

“I think that Italian food is sexy,” says the Daytime Emmy-winning television host and New York Times bestselling cookbook author, who was born in Rome and built an empire by imparting her native cuisine to aspiring home cooks.