Italian-born cook and restaurateur Stefano de Pieri discusses authentic Italian food and why such a small country as Italy has such a diverse food culture - expect everything from food for feasts to the genius food of the "cucina povera" or poor kitchen. Stefano, who has run a successful eatery in regional Victoria for 30 years, is also passionate about using the food of his local area in the Murray-Darling Basin, known as the food bowl of Australia. We discuss threats to the waterway, the significance of the native Murray cod, what changes our food producers are putting in place to preserve this delicate eco-system, and we hear of the fortitude of our farmers as they withstand the bitter cycles of drought and flood. This award-winning restaurateur pulls no punches as he discusses the environment and his frustrations with the Australian palette but Stefano's love of his adopted community, the star of his new tv series Australia's Food Bowl which airs this month on SBS Food, shines through. Bon appetito! Love this podcast? Buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/extravirginfoodtravelpodcast