The Risotto that Feels Like Home

In this heartwarming conversation, Kathie Lapcevic welcomes Marcella Cantatore of Marcellina in Cucina to share the story behind her family’s treasured saffron risotto recipe. Passed down from her grandmother in Milan to her father in tropical North Queensland, this dish carries decades of tradition, adaptation, and love.

Marcella shares how she learned to cook not from measuring cups, but by standing next to her dad—absorbing tips like “don’t let the onions go past ginger,” saving parmesan rinds for extra flavor, and adding a good knob of butter at the end. You’ll hear the history of adapting recipes when ingredients weren’t available, the secret to achieving risotto’s perfect wave-like texture, and creative ways to transform leftovers into a frittata.

Whether you’re here for authentic Italian cooking inspiration, slow food stories, or simply the reminder that food can connect us deeply to our roots, this episode will leave you feeling both inspired and hungry.

Get full show notes, recipe links & more: https://handmedownrecipes.com/podcast-episode-11/

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