David Rocco
TV chef David Rocco cooks casual, authentic Italian food.
Born in Toronto, David was the youngest of three children to Neapolitan parents. At school he took up acting and modelling and later earned a degree in economics at York University.
After university David was drawn back to his love of the kitchen, which had stemmed from watching his mother cook as a child, and his restaurant 'La Madonnina' was born. Owned and managed by the Roccos and serving casual, authentic Italian dishes, the restaurant was a success.
After two years at the restaurant David and his wife Nina, were given the chance to present Avventura: Journeys in Italian Cuisine, a 26-episode travel and Italian cooking show, which aired in Canada. David Rocco's Dolce Vita soon followed, in which he showed off the joys of living in Florence.
Books
Avventura: Culinary Adventures in Italy
David Rocco's Recipes
David Rocco cooks up a delicious Italian soup recipe of porcini mushrooms, spinach and chilli
Avg user rating:
Total time
45 min
This dish from David Rocco combines salty anchovies, crisp white wine and creamy parmesan. Great on its own or with a rich tomato sauce
Avg user rating:
Total time
1 hr
With golden courgette, sharp capers and fresh mint, this pasta dish from David Rocco is sure to become a family favourite
Avg user rating:
Total time
35 min
Try making David Rocco’s simple festive dessert of dried figs stuffed with almonds and sugar baked in Italian grape brandy
Avg user rating:
Total time
35 min
David Rocco’s recipe for pasta al forno, meaning ‘oven baked pasta’ in Italian is a comforting dish of rigatoni in aubergine and tomato sauce with mozzarella
Avg user rating:
Total time
55 min
A smoky flavour perfectly complements these salty sardines in David Rocco’s exciting barbecue alternative
Avg user rating:
Total time
20 min
This rich Italian beef stew from David Rocco perfectly combines pancetta, sherry and dark chocolate
Avg user rating:
Total time
1 hr 35 min
David Rocco cooks thinly sliced beef tenderloin in wine and garlic then serves it on slices of toasted crusty bread with rocket and parmesan
Avg user rating:
Total time
30 min
David Rocco serves up freshly shelled broad beans with slices of nutty pecorino cheese for this simple side dish
Avg user rating:
Total time
10 min
David Rocco spreads crusty white bread with lashings of butter and scatters with crunchy brown sugar
Avg user rating:
Total time
10 min
