Dirty dishes

Born in Tuscany, Pino Luongo had an idyllic (and well-fed) childhood before moving to New York City where he began in the restaurant world. Starting from the bottom, he worked his way towards owning a string of restaurants, earning a reputation for brilliance, charm - and volatility. But after an ambitious national expansion went sour, he left behind the empire he had built and returned to his first love: the kitchen. This is a memoir of Pino's journey but also a portrait of the New York restaurant world and its many famous diners. Includes ten of his all-time favourite recipes.