About the Author
Hello!
My name is Irina. I’m the author of the “Encyclopedia of Italian Cuisine”—20 volumes, each dedicated to a different region of Italy.
Five years ago, I moved to Calabria. To the mountain village of Miliuso, which is located at the narrowest point of the Italian boot—between the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas. Here, the two seas are so close that you can see both from a single peak.
I came here for a week. And stayed for years.
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Why I write about Italian cuisine
Because it’s not about recipes. It’s about the land, about people, and about passion.
In Miluso, I learned to understand food differently. My neighbor showed me how to fry nduja on bread. A fisherman from a nearby village explained why laccherri needs to be cooked long and with love. And a grandmother at the market once said, “If your pasta doesn’t have pepperoncino, what’s the point of having it at all?”
I started writing things down. First for myself. Then for friends. And then I realized it had to become a book. Or twenty books—one for each region of Italy.
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What’s inside the encyclopedia
Each volume is a journey through one region. I’ve collected:
traditional recipes passed down to me by locals
the histories of the dishes—why they appeared there
unique products that the region is proud of
my personal discoveries and favorite places
This isn’t a dry encyclopedia. This is the culinary diary of a traveler who fell in love with Italy, with all its crevasses, mountains, and hot peppers.
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Where am I now?
Still in Miliuso. Still between two seas. Still discovering something new in Calabrian cuisine every day.
And I’m writing for you—the next volume, the next article, the next story.
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Let’s be friends!
Books on Amazon: “Encyclopedia of Italian Cuisine”
Email: irynasambor@gmail.com
Social media: Instagram,
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Grazie e buon appetito!
Iryna Sambor,
Miliuso, Calabria!