Salt & Spine

After more than four decades in professional kitchens—including twenty years as chef-owner of Portland's beloved Nostrana—Cathy Whims has published her first cookbook. The Italian Summer Kitchen captures the essence of Italian summer cooking through the lens of the Pacific Northwest, featuring simple, ingredient-driven recipes and beautiful watercolor illustrations.This conversation was recorded in Bologna, Italy, at Sette Tavoli, one of Brian's favorite restaurants. We discuss Cathy's journey from vegetarian teenager to celebrated chef, her time training with Marcella Hazan and Dario Cecchini, the cult following around Nostrana's signature Insalata Nostrana, and how the pandemic changed her approach to this book.In this episode:• Growing up cooking with Julia Child cookbooks• Working through every station at Genoa, Portland's premier fine dining restaurant• The pivotal trips to Italy that changed everything• Opening Nostrana and celebrating 20 years this year• Training with Marcella Hazan and the tomato butt