What Gualtiero Marchesi learned from the Troisgros brothers in Roanne, was, above all, the importance of simplicity.

The beginnings of La Nouvelle Cuisine (French: the new cuisine) are likened to the Impressionists, abandoning mythical themes, and painting directly from nature. La Nouvelle Cuisine focused on the quality of the food itself. Marchesi was in tune with this idea, and at the same time, knew he'd found true artistry in the Troisgros brothers in Dijon, when he went to work with them in the late sixties.

From la nouvelle cuisine, which at its beginnings was reserved for fancy restaurants and connoisseurs and was looked upon with some scepticism, important lessons could be learned about cooking methods and the quality of the food itself.

Italians are very attached to tradition. In fact, although eating habits have changed, many traditional dishes, rather than being discarded, have been transformed. This means more variety and smaller portions, so that a diner will eat more than just a plateful of pasta.

Find out what's so special about the restaurant where Anna and Marika are about to have lunch.

Gualtiero Marchesi is an artist, using food to express his creativity. He's also headstrong, and doesn't easily accept other people's ideas. Step by step, he shows us how to make his famous open ravioli, beautiful to look at, and wonderful to taste!

What did people eat in Ancient Rome? Paolo, the owner of the restaurant, tells us about the history of the place and talks about the most popular dishes on the menu based on actual recipes from Roman times.

The journey into the past continues, and this time Paolo, the proprietor even tells an anecdote concerning American history. If you're wondering what American History has to do with ancient Rome, tune in!

The great chef, Gualtiero Marchesi, invites us to keep on dreaming, and to believe in our dreams. He takes us into his own dream, which has to do with cuisine as art. Consequently, the way in which food is presented takes on special importance.

Another little journey back in time. This time Anna and Marika discover what pigeons have to do with dead people!

Gualtiero's mind was working on his new cuisine, creating new dishes, but first he had to find a suitable place for a restaurant. Not an easy task!

Three little cooks prepare a delicious pasta dish dedicated to the tricolore (the Italian flag). See more of their videos: uChef

After lots of searching, Gualtiero Marchesi finally finds a place that could work as the restaurant of his dreams.

Arianna explains, in simple Italian, and step by step, her own personal recipe for a pasta dish: Farfalle Primavera. Farfalle is a type of pasta shaped like a farfalla (butterfly). Primavera is the season between winter and summer.

Here we are at the last part of the story of this unique restaurant. Anna and Marika relax over coffee, and tease each other about being just a bit fuori (nuts).