Nudo - Straight From the Grove

This is one of those multipurpose books: it combines travel writing with a hint of cookery and a mere dash of jealousy – yours, I mean. Each chapter is punctuated with delicious, authentic Italian recipes, as the authors take you through the precarious adventure that is buying an olive grove and setting up a thriving business in Italy when you’re British and armed with just a dictionary and a baby. Be warned: by about two-thirds of your way through this luscious book – taken from a blog of the same name – you’ll be craving olives by the crate load and dreaming of adopting your very own olive tree.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to own your own olive grove, whimsically or otherwise, this book gives you the inside scoop. The Dolce Vita Diaries charts the progress of Cathy Rogers and Jason Gibb as they set out on their dream to harvest their own olive oil from their very own olive grove. Between them the couple have notched up careers as TV producers, marine biologists, medics, touring musicians, lake monster hunters, diving instructors, TV presenters, and even church organists. Phew. Cathy Rogers is probably best known for her appearances as a presenter on Channel 4's Scrapheap Challenge but felt the earthier qualities of the olive grove calling. Just be warned – you might start craving good bread and even better olive oil as you read through the ups, downs and recipes the couple encounter with their Italian olive grove project

There's a real sense of fun to this book, and indeed the Brit authors positively brim with exuberance throughout. After trying out a multitude of careers, the couple left the rat race in 2005, seeking refuge in the Italian countryside. 'The Dolce Vita Diaries' charts Rogers' and Gibb's adventures in the world of olive oil, tracking their progress as they procure an olive grove, harvest the fruits of their labour and eventually build a successful business. The book's written with humour and vigour, rendering a potentially dry subject as vibrant as the oils they describe. Chapters are concluded with the recipes interwoven into the stories- a lovely touch- cooking them as you read submerges you totally in the authors' experience. Obscure tasting notes are dispensed with in favour of more accessible terminology- here we find, 'What a cacophany of flavours!' from the Moroccan oil, and learn that Californian oil is 'No-one's favourite'! It's hard to pigeonhole this wonderful book- indeed, why would you want to? Part memoir, part recipe book, even part business plan, 'The Dolce Vita Diaries' is seriously engrossing, with a huge personality. Cathy and Jason neatly coerced me into making the 'Strozaprezzi' pasta, telling me, 'Not only does it have a clever little twist in it that means sauces stick to it in gooey lumps, but best of all, its name means 'priest choker'!' That's the thing with this book- it really does feel like having a chat with your mates... Those ones who exhaust you with their sheer enthusiasm for life. If you're just after a rollicking adventure from a book, 'The Dolce Vita Diaries' will do nicely- but it's so much more. By the final pages, you'll be more knowledgeable about olive oil; longing for Italy; ravenously hungry and sorry to bid goodbye to two such big characters. Perfect summer reading.

The greatest escape since the Great Escape.

A fun book with lots of easy tasty recipes, a travel, life-style and cookery book all in one! I thoroughly recommend it.

This is terrific reading for anyone who loves olives and the Med! The story is inspiring, but I headed straight for the delicious (and simple) olive oil recipes. The beautiful jacket makes the whole thing a wonderful package, though mine may get messed up as it's going to live with the recipe books in the kitchen!

What a terrific complement to a gift of "Adopt an Olive Tree". It was fun to read your stories and your recipes. I can't wait to try them!

Jason and Cathy's story of pursuing their olive grove dream is truly inspiring. I think we've all had that desire to just jump out of our day jobs and pursue a passion, an interest, a wish we know would just make our lives more exciting and meaningful if it came into fruition. I was so involved in their journey that I hated the book to end. I wanted to learn more, more, more! The foodie journey was also terrific. I'm just glad reading about food doesn't make you fat otherwise I'd weigh a ton after reading this book. The recipes were so interesting but the stories behind the ingredients and procedures were what brought the whole foodie reading experience to life. I hope to order my own Nudo products soon, and yes, adopt an olive oil tree. I wouldn't be surprised if this gets turned into a movie. I'll surely be first in line!

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