Valentina Solfrini, graphic designer turned blogger, is the author of the award-winning blog Hortus Cuisine, which focuses on seasonal Italian cooking and lifestyle. Coming from a family of cooks, her goal is to capture the essence of the delicious, Italian vegetarian food she learned to prepare from the women of her family through photography and stories. Her work has been featured in Saveur Magazine, Food52, Delicious Magazine, Where Women Cook Magazine, Chickpea Magazine, Verily Magazine, and many other publications, and she writes a weekly column on vegetarian Italian food in both English and Italian for the leading Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Solfrini won the 2016 Saveur Editor's Choice award for Best Food Blog Photography and the 2014 Saveur Editor's Choice award for Best New Blog. A native Italian, Valentina lives on the family farm in Gradara, Italy with her mother, grandmother, brother, assorted relatives and too many cats.
"“Stunning full-page photos transport the reader to the Italian countryside, while recipes up the ante on vegetarian and plant-based cooking.” —Publishers Weekly ""Valentina’s charming stories and breathtaking images will make you want to hop on a plane to cook alongside her in her Italian countryside kitchen. She somehow combines the incredible ingredients of rural Italy and generations of cooking tradition with modern healthy vegetarian sensibilities in a way that is completely natural, organic, and stunningly beautiful.” —Jeanine Donofrio, author of The Love and Lemons Cookbook ""This book is pure poetry. Valentina is an artist armed with a wealth of knowledge of Italian cuisine and a passionate approach to food and photography that is truly contagious. Naturally Vegetarian opens up a whole world of Italian recipes that are wholesome, inspiring, healthy, and beautiful. This book is a stunning addition to any kitchen."" —Molly Yeh, author of Molly on the Range “Naturally Vegetarian is far more than a sumptuous collection of vibrant recipes and stunning photographs that conjure the spirit of northeastern Italy: It's a transportive, storytelling work of art that showcases Valentina’s passion for food, beauty, and the nourishing connection between humans and the natural world.” —Lily Diamond, creator and author of Kale & Caramel “Valentina Solfrini's recipes flawlessly capture the rhythms of nature that guide Italy's home cooking and each dish thoughtfully captures the bold flavor and color contrasts that Italian cooks achieve with even the simplest ingredients. “ —Katie Parla, author of Tasting Rome"