Carrots, basil, lemon juice, olive oil. It seems too simple to be the stuff of a truly great recipe, and yet Amber Guinness’s salad is both winning and foolproof. The cookbook author was born in London, grew up in Tuscany, and now lives in Florence; her food skews Italian, and her techniques are user-friendly. Her debut, A House Party in Tuscany, was an homage to Arniano, the farmhouse overlooking Montalcino, where her parents host painting courses. It’s gold for those who love to entertain but refuse to let meal prep take over their lives. Now, just in time for the lunch-alfresco season, Italian Coastal has arrived. Guinness has applied her commitment to simplicity to the fruits of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and even those who refuse to boil water will enjoy this blend of memoir and travelogue. Herewith, she reveals her key components to the good life. —Ashley Baker
Airline: British Airways.
Airport: Florence Airport, Peretola.
Alibi: “The baby hid my phone.”
App: Audible, to listen to Timothy West narrating Anthony Trollope.
Bag: A red cross-body leather Lulu Guinness bag that fits my phone, wallet, lipstick, and a paperback.
Bedtime: I have a one-year-old, so it’s much earlier than it used to be.
Bike: I’d much rather walk.
Birthday: An outdoor dinner with friends in Tuscany, followed by dancing on the terrace.
Boyfriend: I married him.
Breakfast, weekday: Coffee, a boiled egg, and buttered toast.
Breakfast, weekend: Coffee, fried eggs, pancetta and avocado on toast with lots of chili flakes.
Car: I wouldn’t mind an Aston Martin, but I have a BMW.
Child: I have one called Milo. I like him.
Cocktail: A spicy margarita.
Cocktail appetizer: The mini pizzas with lemon, mozzarella, and thyme from Italian Coastal.
