About this season
David Rocco's Dolce Vita is a television show hosted by David Rocco. The show is shot on location in and around the cities and countrysides of Italy, following the cultural, social, and culinary escapades of David and his friends. Besides cooking, the show explores the Italian ways of life and ways of food in this culture exposé. David and his wife Nina traipse around Florence and Sicily, cooking dinner for friends, checking out local hot spots, and living the sweet life. The recipes that David makes are generally easy to follow, classic Italian dishes. The whole concept behind the cooking aspect of the program is that good cooking doesn't have to be difficult. The dishes he makes are always elegant and impressive, but simple and quick. Some episodes deal with thematic recipes, such as "The Hunt for Funghi". Other episodes include "The Party", "Boy's Night Out", and "Rocco and the City".
Episodes (13)
1. The Feast
Aired 14 September 2009 • 30 min
David throws a fall fiesta at his farmhouse for friends and neighbours with a little help from a group of artistic and foodie friends. This is an annual feast where they celebrate the vegetables of the season.
2. Sauces
Aired 21 September 2009 • 30 min
Inspired by a lunch in Florence at one of his favourite street vendors, David makes a series of Italian sauces, including a chili pepper jam, that are to die for.
3. Viva la Ciccia
Aired 28 September 2009 • 30 min
David travels to the Tuscan town of Panzano and spends time with the most famous butcher in Italy, maybe the world! Dario Cecchini is a flamboyant character who is fanatical about meat and a master at selecting, cutting and serving it. People from all over the world make pilgrimages to meet him and eat in one of his restaurants.
4. The Wine Harvest
Aired 5 October 2009 • 30 min
In the verdant rolling hills of Tuscany is Castello di Trebbio; David tours the grounds, takes part in the grape harvest and makes some dishes using their wine and grapes.
5. Pizza
Aired 19 October 2009 • 30 min
Who doesn't love pizza? David makes dough from scratch and then its pizza pandemonium as he makes savoury pizzas, calzones, foccacia and dessert pizzas in his wood-burning oven.
6. The Olive Harvest
Aired 26 October 2009 • 30 min
In Tuscany, people take time off from their regular jobs to work the harvest and take their payment in olive oil. David goes to Fattoria La Vacchio where his friend Faye produce organic olive oil.
7. Soups
Aired 2 November 2009 • 30 min
What's more comforting on a chilly day than a bowl of soup? David makes simple but hearty soups using mostly inexpensive cupboard staples with a few seasonal vegetables thrown in.
8. Everybody Loves Meatballs
Aired 9 November 2009 • 30 min
David visits his local butcher who raises his own animals and sells organic meat from a cart at the side of a country road. After the visit, David heads home and makes a variety of meatballs using the beef.
9. Sfizi
Aired 16 November 2009 • 30 min
David makes a series of foods called sfizi: These are smaller bites that can be enjoyed on their own or put together in a big antipasto spread.
10. The Chestnut Harvest
Aired 23 November 2009 • 30 min
Autumn is chestnut season in Tuscany. David finds out everything you'd ever want to know about chestnuts, from the very unusual way in which they are harvested, to how versatile and nutritious they are.
11. Alchemy
Aired 30 November 2009 • 30 min
David Rocco visits an organic farm and explores how simple ingredients can make magical meals, including a pasta fresca and a zabaglione dessert.
12. The Hunt
Aired 7 December 2009 • 30 min
David goes out with a group of hunters and then prepares dishes with the meat. David also befriends his neighbours who have their own gourmet mens cooking club that meets once a month to cook macho dishes.
13. Vinegar
Aired 14 December 2009 • 30 min
David travels to the Tuscan town of Volpaia to see how fine vinegar is made and cooks with it.