Silvia Colloca is a supremely inspiring, wonderful cook who makes me want to cook more often, and better. This cookbook author and television host describes having a soup as being “a hug from an angel”, I just love it - this episode brought immense joy into my day, my week. This is episode 15 of Dish, a cooking podcast set in Sydney, Australia. I’m your host Kate Gibbs.  Recorded as Sydney entered yet another lockdown this Australian winter, Silvia Colloca talks about protecting her own space and finding time for herself, particularly with kids doing home schooling and little ones around the house.  Silvia is an opera singer, brilliantly, and she talks about that side of her career.  She goes into how she moved into food as well, and talks about the idea of ‘talent’. She is not talented, she says, she is skilled. Like a doctor or a chef, she has trained to gain the skills she has - both in opera and in food. I love how Silvia talks so openly about determination and hard work, especially during a time when many dismiss celebrities as being lucky. Hard work is a huge part of her success and skill, says Silva, and of course she is right. It’s a refreshing reminder.   She shares her favourite podcasts and espouses the importance of listening to other people’s point of view.  We laugh about our genuine heartbreak over badly poached eggs, she teaches us how to cook pasta properly, and offers some insider “nonna” tips. She shows us how she cooks at home, simply but always well, and this episode is packed with ideas on cooking  Italian.  To celebrate Silvia Colloca appearing as a guest on Dish, we are giving away three copies of her latest cookbook - Simple Italian: The Essentials of Italian Home Cooking. To go in the draw to win a copy, check out my Instagram on how to enter. Valid for Australian addresses only.  I loved this intelligent, beautiful chat with Silvia Colloca, and I hope you do as well. Here she is.  Episode links:  Kate Gibbs Instagram - how to win a copy of Silvia Colloca’s cookbook    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.