For some reason I find it easier to write about places when I don't live in them. I've spent quite a lot of time in Italy over the years - particularly during my childhood - and being away from it sort of helps me distill its essence a little more. The same goes for London where many of my novels are also partly set. So no plans to set any stories in New Zealand at the moment.

        Do you think Italian and NZ cultures have things in common, and if so, which ones?

Love of food and the outdoors plus a passion for sport would be things we have in common. The part of Italian culture I wish we would adopt is the passeggiata - that evening stroll when you stop and chat to friends and neighbours and perhaps pause for a drink and some little snacks. I think it's so civilsed. Here we tend to socialise inside our homes more and I like that idea of being out in the world and part of a community.

        What is your favourite restaurant in Italy and can you recommend some hidden gems there that are off the beaten track?.

My favourite place in Italy to eat is my aunt Peppina's place. She is an incredible cook and it wouldn't matter if two people turned up for dinner or 20, she would still produce something beautiful and bursting with flavour. Last time I was there though was to research my new novel One Summer In Venice and I had a couple of weeks alone in Venice, visting bacari and  living on cicchetti and tasting local specialities like bigoli in salsa and sarde en soar. My favourite cicchetti places were All'Arco and Pronto Pesce near the Rialto market. And Alla Vedova which is famous for its polpette. There's a great guide to eating out there called Venice Osterie by Michela Scibilia that I used a lot to find some of the quieter, off-the-beaten track places.

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