Italy has a lot of coastline…from North to South, from the Mediterranean to the Adriatic. The eggplant involtini transport me to Sicily where light eggplant dishes with mozzarella are present at every meal. The branzino with lemon and olives is originally a recipe from a Piedmontese friend’s many summers on the riviera. The potato sticks add a finger-food casualty that I experienced on many beach days outside of Rome and the sgroppino takes me to the  warmly intoxicated nights that Italy uniquely offers.