Calabria and Bambinone

Italians are sentimental about childhood, especially in the south, where children are idolised and even revered. And because life for little boys is so very good, there is a part of every Italian male that never grows up. Nowhere is this better illustrated than in the character and antics of Antonio and Gennaro, both of whom were southern born.

We join them on a sentimental journey through the countryside 'that was our sweet shop' to discover just how healthy and delicious children's food can be. Antonio divulges the secret of his silver service hot packed school lunches while Gennaro shares the childhood mystery of the ritual pig kill. But life for children today is changing dramatically.

With rapidly declining birth rates, one in four will now grow up without either brothers or sisters. Antonio and Gennaro are saddened by the revelation but are very relieved to find people working to get kids together to cook, so tomorrow's greedy Italians will never eat alone.

Featuring dishes including fish stew, rice cake flavoured with orange and orzotto (pork and pearl barley risotto).