This week I’m joined by Angela Petch whose latest novel The Lost Garden was published by Bookouture on 11 September 2025. Angela is going to tell readers more about the food featured in the book and if you buy this novel there are recipes at the back of the book to enjoy too…
Most people say we eat to live but Italians say, ‘We live to eat…’
For Italians food is almost a religion. We listen in on so many discussions amongst our Italian friends over the best ways to prepare certain recipes. So, for me it is impossible to write a book set in Italy without including food.
My new book, The Lost Garden includes country recipes that Allegra, the cook and housekeeper, prepares in the castle kitchen where the heroine, Tina, feels most at home (except when working in her precious secret garden).
Originally, I dished these recipes up whenever Allegra made them but at structural edit stage we moved them to the back, as both my editor and I felt they distracted from the action. I hope readers will try them out.
We live high in the Apennines where the climate is not always meek and mild. Locals have always had to be resourceful and inventive and are excellent foragers. You cannot return from a walk without a basket of mushrooms (note: you need a licence to gather these).
The above photo is of a friend gathering chanterelles and one of the most perfect gifts for me is to receive a freshly-picked porcino mushroom from the forest. They can be eaten sliced raw or made into any number of wonderful sauces for homemade pasta dishes.
The other day I picked wild Cornelian cherries to make into jam whilst my friend gathered wild chicory leaves for salad.
I’d written about such foraging in my second book, A Tuscan Memory where women and children were left alone in the mountains for five long winter months whilst their menfolk travelled to the coast with livestock. But in The Lost Garden, we are living through WW2 with widespread food shortages and rationing. Countryfolk had an advantage over city folk with their knowledge of the wild. My local friends know too: recipes are passed down through generations and there is a restaurant a stone’s throw from us specialising in these humble but delicious dishes.
(L’erbhosteria del Castello: www.erbhosteria.it)
I like to fill my Italian-based stories with as much local culture as possible. The research is not hard, especially when you need to visit Rome for your book and savour local dishes. One of my favourite characters in my new book is Silvia, (based on a Roman friend). She and her lovely husband took us round their city and we tried local dishes. I sunk my teeth into a cream-filled maritozzo bun but also tried the Jewish dish of deep-fried artichokes.
I also tried “puntarelle”: a salad made from the thinly-sliced inner core of a special chicory vegetable, soaked in ice-cold water for a while to help the leaves curl and then marinaded in a garlic, anchovy and olive oil dressing. Wonderful!
It’s a hard life but someone has to live it for literature…
Buon appetito, everyone, and I hope you enjoy trying some of the dishes in The Lost Garden.
More About Angela Petch
Angela Petch is an award-winning and bestselling writer of fiction – plus the occasional poem.
Every summer she moves to Tuscany for six months where she and her husband own a renovated watermill which they let out. When not exploring their unspoilt corner of the Apennines, she disappears to her writing desk at the top of a converted stable. In her Italian handbag or hiking rucksack she always makes sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas.
The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of her family live. When Angela’s not helping out with grandchildren, she catches up with writer friends.
To keep in touch with Angela you can use the following links:-
Blog: https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaJaneClarePetch
Instagram: @angela_maurice
More About The Lost Garden by Angela Petch
Italy, 1942. Moonlight pools around my feet as I cross the silent garden, and my heart stops when I see a familiar figure, crumpled on the flagstone floor of the greenhouse. Dropping to my knees, I gather him into my arms, tears filling my eyes. ‘Olivio! What have they done to you?!’
When flamed-haired Tina stumbles upon a secret, overgrown space within in the sprawling grounds of the castle where she has lived her whole life, she knows she’s found her mother’s lost garden. Defying her strict father, who has forbidden her to even speak of the woman who died giving birth to her, Tina vows to bring it back to life with the help of Olivio, a shy, handsome young man from the village.
But as war clouds looming on the horizon and enemy planes in the sky, Tina is horrified to learn that father supports the Nazis. She promises to help Olivio and his friends in the Italian Resistance in any way she can. And when she finds her mother’s long-lost leather-bound journal tucked away in the castle library, she begins to realise that the garden – with its hidden passages and life-giving herbs – could make it a vital place of healing and safety…
Then Tina discovers a man seeking shelter in the garden one night, injured and in terrible pain. She hurries to help, and her heart is gripped with fear when she sees it’s Olivio. Tina knows the risks – helping him could cost her everything. But still she vows to fight – for his life, for their future together, and for freedom.
With more than one life depending on her and danger at every turn, can Tina save the man she loves and keep the secrets of the lost garden safe?
An absolutely breathtaking and stunning historical novel about the incredible risks people took in wartime, family secrets, loss and love. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy and Santa Montefiore.
Read what everyone’s saying about The Lost Garden:
‘Absolutely stunning… I was swept away… Absolutely amazing… I have ended it with tears in my eyes… Absolutely packed with emotion… Heart-warming… Unforgettable… A devastating, beautiful, heartbreaking, compelling and riveting page-turner… DO NOT PICK THIS UP UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh blimey, absolutely stunning… Spellbinding and beautiful… A favourite, top tier, stick-with-me forever book… Gave me a day full of joy… A definite must-read.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Had me at secret garden!… Stunning… Gorgeous… Absolutely wonderful… A completely captivating and emotional novel that I will never forget!’Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Something spell-like about this book… I found myself unexpectedly teary more than once… A novel that sneaks up on you… it gets under your skin. Five stars.’ bookscoffeebrews,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Absolutely stunning… Transported me to 1930s Italy and refused to let me go… Powerful and unforgettable… Deeply emotional, and full of hope… Truly breathtaking… I was swept away.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘My heart raced and my eyes filled with tears many times as I flew through the pages… More than a brilliant book; it’s an experience.’ Gia Scribes,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautiful… I was swept away… it felt like stepping into another world… I found myself eager to return to the book every chance I got… Full of heart… Immersive and moving.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was completely wrapped up in this… So devastating and heartbreaking.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
To buy The Lost Garden you can use the following links:-
Buying Link for The Lost Garden – here
Audio:
Other Books by Angela Petch include:-
Thank you for visiting Morton S. Gray’s blog.
The Secrets of Borteen Bay boxset at the bargain price of 99p here.
Sign up to my blog to receive weekly updates below:
Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe
Thank you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post.
You can also find me on Amazon, Facebook, X Twitter and Instagram.
Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books
Morton S. Gray - Author 
Mille grazie – or a thousand thanks, as we say here in Italy, for inviting me to chat on your blog. You are always so supportive. It was kind of you to take the time to post this during the sad days after losing your lovely dog. They are part of the family, but I’m sure you gave her a very happy life. Big hug xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome and please write another Mavis and Dot 😀
LikeLike