Chef Michael Kramer wears several hats: Executive Chef and owner of Italian restaurant Jianna; cyclist and friend of Tour de France legends George Hincapie, Bobby Julich, and Christian Vande Velde; and now… published cookbook author.

Kramer’s debut cookbook is titled “Jianna,” after the restaurant we know and love, and he says it’s a project 30 years in the making.

“It’s sort of a love letter to Italy,” Kramer explained. “To the people, to the terroir, to the food and the wine, to the hospitality, to the spirit of Italy.”

The food

The book is filled with dishes you’ll find on the restaurant’s menu (like the char-grilled octopus, potato gnocchi + ricotta crostini), but Chef Kramer also shared recipes from his past work at McCrady’s in Charleston (hey, CHStoday), and dishes paying homage to culinary mentors.

The wine

What’s a Jianna experience without wine? In addition to these recipes, General Manager and Managing Partner Andrea Ciavardini-Royko (who is also an Advanced Sommelier and Certified Specialist of Wine), wrote a section that Kramer says he couldn’t imagine the book without.

“It’s the 101 to Italian wine,” Kramer lauded of Ciavardini-Royko’s addition. “It was important to me to add another layer to the book.”

Pick up your copy in store + on Jianna’s website.