Have you seen Massimo Bottura's new video?

Check out the flamboyant star of our Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef book 'dropping the lemon tart'

As you probably know by now, Massimo Bottura, the number 3 ranked chef in Monday's 50 Best Restaurants Awards, publishes his first ever book Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef with us later in the year. The book will feature 50 recipes from the colourful Osteria Francescana main man and is split into four chapters, each marking a different stage in his incredible career. You can be the first to get it by pre-ordering here.

Massimo grew up in Modena and developed an interest in cooking from a young age after watching his mother, grandmother and aunt in the kitchen preparing family meals. In 1986 he left a law degree to open his first restaurant and subsequently went on to develop his love of food with stages for Alain Ducasse at Louis XV in Monte Carlo and Ferran Adriá at elbulli. He opened Osteria Francescana in 1995.

Massimo's planning something very, very special to coincide with the publication of the book in October but he's sworn us to secrecy so you'll have to wait just a little bit longer for that bit of info to drop. Meanwhile though you can watch this great video we made with him in the kitchens of Osteria Francescana a few weeks back.

You may also like to know that Massimo is featured in our new book Eating With The Chefs by Per-Anders Jörgensen, which sees the Fool magazine photographer documenting the daily meal shared by chefs and front of house staff at eighteen of the world's most creative restaurants. Exquisite photography, coupled with over fifty, easy to follow recipes, provide a unique insight into the ordinary food behind the immaculate kitchen walls. You can head into the store and Buy it here. And while you're there, don't forget to pre-order Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef.