Rolando Beramedi, author of Autentico, is also the founder of Manicaretti, a San Francisco-based company that imports high-quality Italian products. Beramedi has a true passion for excellent ingredients, and in Autentico, he conveys the idea of simplicity in cooking to highlight the best produce and products. There’s no need to overcomplicate cooking when you start with the best ingredients you can find.

“I cook food in its most authentic form,” Beramedi explains in the book. “I cook to break preconceived notions of what food should be — no overcrowded plates, no recipes with too many disparate ingredients, no need for a lot of equipment. I make no-fuss food for my guests and myself that nourishes both our hearts and our stomachs.”