The series premieres with Giada arriving in Sorrento and preparing a light meal menu: grilled Treviso with citrus bagna cauda; branzino with tomato and capers; citrus with gelato.
Giada hosts a cocktail party on her villa deck for neighbors and friends. On the menu: she serves an assortment of small bites inspired by California, including vegan artichoke arancini and smoked whitefish crostini.
Giada visits the Southern Italian town of Torre Annunziata, where her great-grandparents once owned a pasta factory. Later, she makes linguine with anchovy and walnuts. She also prepares a recipe for fusilli with fresh pomodoro.
Giada creates a "daily special" for the lunch hour at a local Italian eatery. On the menu: pan-roasted asparagus with crispy fried egg; roasted chicken cacciatore; and Sin City cookies.
The town of Sorrento's incredible seafood and abundance of citrus inspires Giada to make grilled swordfish with candied lemon salad; and shrimp and grapefruit skewers.
Giada and Raffaella De Laurentiis, her Aunt Raffy, tries to replicate Giada's grandmother's recipe for sartu di riso, inspired by Giada's grandparents' honeymoon.
A game of bocce is followed by lunch, with a friend, in the town of Scala. On the menu: prosciutto cotto pinwheels; marinated salumi sandwiches; and tomato, avocado and escarole salad.
Giada spends her Sunday afternoon, in the kitchen, cooking for a family get-together. The menu includes roasted beets with cherries and pistachios; mushroom-and-pea farrotto; and lamb osso buco.
Giada learns how to make her favorite bakery's famous pound cake, during a visit to Sorrento, Italy. And later, she prepares limoncello zabaglione and a chocolate-pistachio fudge tart.
In the Season 1 finale, Giada hosts a wine and appetizer party, featuring bite-size versions of popular southern Italian dishes. On the menu: savory crostata; potato crisps with goat cheese and olives; and Parmesan and prosciutto-spiced plums.