Perhaps its Capri, or Puglia or even Sicily that you decree to be your favourite place to visit in Italy. But for Jamie Oliver it’s quite the different story.

Speaking recently to delicious. as a part of the launch of his new tome Jamie Cooks Italy, Oliver admitted that while he adores the whole of Italy (and its food), there’s one place in particular that he loves to visit over and over. The northern city of Turin sits up in the mountains, making it not only a favourite for those fond of skiing, but a haven for heartier fare.

“I love skiing and I love mountain food,” Oliver admits. “That high altitude dairy is really quite phenomenal, especially around that district. The fact that Turin used to be under the control of the French and now is Italian means that it has that chocolate elegance and refinement but with that Italian grunt. While it’s bloody cold, that means that the curing and the cooking of the food is just incredible,” he continues.

Of course what Oliver is talking about are the kind of hearty, traditional dishes that help keep you warm, and certainly satisfy any hunger pangs.”That particular area has seen a lot of conflict in the past 500 years, so the villages were made to be linear with the mountains. This is all pre-refrigeration which means food-wise that it was all about the slow-cooking and the drying of meats and produce. In Turin you’ll find so many amazing dishes, from eight-hour cooked ragu to agnolotti and gnocchi that’s shaped like teardrops and smothered in simple combinations of garlic, rosemary and smoked bacon.”

It looks like if Turin was on the hunt for an ambassador, they may have just found the perfect candidate.

Jamie Cooks Italy (Penguin, RRP 49.99) is available now from all good book sellers and online retailers.