The Everyday Gourmet: The Joy of Mediterranean Cooking

What is Mediterranean cooking? Start your exploration by learning to cook some of the small dishes that populate menus around the region. Watch as Chef Bill Briwa creates pinchos morunos, or skewered food in the style of the Moors; a brandade of salt cod, which is popular in many Mediterranean countries; and dolmas stuffed with rice.

Turn your attention to northern Italy, which - with its pastureland and cooler climate - has far more in common with the cuisine of northern Europe than it does with other regions of Italy. Learn to scratch make ricotta gnocchi, vitello tonnato, and tiramisu, plus a quick hors d'oeuvre that makes the most of any leftover ricotta.

As you move south to the milder weather of central Italy, watch a step-by-step demonstration on making pasta from scratch for a savory pappardelle with ragù Bolognese, along with a salad accompaniment of bitter greens that serves as a digestive, and a simple first course - stracciatelle soup.

Because Italy extends into the Mediterranean, it has adopted many culinary ideas from other countries. Learn how to make one such dish: an African-inspired caponata with seared tuna rolled in spices. Also, discover how to make authentic Neapolitan pizza with a home oven and finish with a refreshing coffee granita dessert.

Olive oil is a defining element of Mediterranean food. In this look at a quintessential ingredient, explore its possibilities from the beginning of a meal through the end, with a salt-crusted branzino preparation, a tomato soup, and even a chocolate dessert. Discover how olive oil is made and how its flavor profile evolves.

If all the tastes of Spain could be captured in a single dish, it would be paella. Learn the subtleties of cooking this national dish, which can be made with a variety of meats and vegetables. Complete the meal with a marinated olive appetizer that pairs perfectly with sherry and a roasted salad called an escalivada.