Anna del Conte is regarded as one of the greatest living experts on Italian food. In 1975 her first book, Portrait of Pasta, was published. After the acclaim the book received, she became the first cookery writer in England to specialise in Italian food. Her books have won many prizes: Gastronomy of Italy received the Duchessa Maria Luigia di Parma award, Entertaining all'Italiana was shortlisted for the Andre Simon Award, The Classic Food of Northern Italy won awards from the Guild of Food Writers and from the Accademia Italiana della Cucina. Anna Del Conte lives in Dorset with her husband close to her daughter and her beloved grandchildren.