In the first of the series, the greedy cooks eat their way around Emilia Romagna, home of parma ham and parmesan cheese, to find out if food and family are still at the heart of Italian life. To begin, they spend an enjoyable Sunday lunch with a traditional Italian family whose fortunes ferment with the balsamic vinegar in their vaults. For the daughters, weekends are dominated by the loving preparation of traditional tortellini, a symbol of their love and ties with their family. In Bologna, they meet a feisty female crime journalist whose life does not revolve around cooking and a fast food tortellini millionaire whose livelihood depends upon these changing lifestyles. They check in at a dating agency to see how Italian women find husbands now and Antonio is cajoled into going on a blind date. Finally, they are surprised to uncover the essence of family when Gennaro is moved to tears by an unusual group of cheese makers. Homely recipes in this episode are Mamma Contaldo's ricotta dumplings and slow cooked family stew with polenta. Gennaro also creates a seductive warm chocolate and amaretto pudding.
