Rolando’s philosophy? “If you have a great pantry, you can be a great cook!”

Start with the very best pantry items (like the artisanal Italian products sourced by Manicaretti), buy what is fresh and in season from the market, and make dishes the way they are meant to be: simple and delicious. There aren’t any shortcuts here—Rolando stays true to the traditions as taught to him by the artisan food makers and chefs who have become his extended Italian family. Go behind the scenes with Rolando, journeying to the farms and kitchens where he learned the importance of great ingredients and simplicity.

The Italian pantry, starring the artisans behind the products

You’ll find 120 recipes for a range of authentic Italian dishes—from Fettunta col Cavolo Nero to Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe to Roast Pork Belly with Wild Fennel. In AUTENTICO, Rolando’s pantry is the main player, with producers offering wisdom about, and uses for their products—like Masseria Mirogallo Spacatelle (hand-sliced tomatoes) farmed in Basilicata, Principato di Lucedio Rice grown in the fertile Po Valley of Piemonte, and IASA hand-packed anchovies caught by night on the Amalfi Coast.

A new understanding for your customers
Rolando has been sharing artisanal Italian products and culinary traditions with Manicaretti customers—specialty retailers and professional chefs—for decades. He knows, however, that it’s not always easy to translate the authentic origins and quality of these products onto the jars and boxes that make their way to the best American specialty stores and restaurants. Now, with AUTENTICO, he offers everyone an insider’s glimpse into the farming and making of many of these products, along with his philosophy and favorite recipes, in the hopes that people everywhere will learn to eat more authentically.

“Rolando Beramendi has had an enormous impact on American food. The depth of his knowledge about Italian food is surpassed only by his passion, humility, sense of humor, and care for both the artisans who make the food and the people who consume it.”

- Ari Weinzweig, Zingerman's, Ann Arbor, Michigan

"Rolando Beramendi brings the bounty of Italy to our tables with recipes that celebrate the vibrant ingredients and fresh flavors of his home country. A true talent in the kitchen, Rolando tantalizes us with everything from vegetable-friendly contorni to fruit-forward, rustic desserts. AUTENTICO is bellissimo!"

- David Lebovitz, author of L'appart and My Paris Kitchen

"Rolando Beramendi has an unrivaled passion for the Italian food he sells. With unbridled and infectious joy, Rolando speaks of its history, explains how to use it, even how to eat it. Cooks and diners alike in America owe Rolando a debt of gratitude."

- Nancy Silverton, chef/co-owner Mozza Restaurant Group