NIGELLISSIMA

Celebrity gastronome Nigella Lawson shares her love for all things Italian in an appetizing app that makes users want to dive into the main course.

Too often, free apps are largely skimpy affairs that leave too much to be desired to warrant the space they take up on an iPad. But Lawson’s tasty sampler of her latest Italian-inspired cookbook is an exception that manages to entice as it satisfies. The sliding split-screen presentation is both sleek and easy to navigate, while a seven-part interview with Lawson—perfectly set in a lush, green garden with a generous glass of wine close at hand—creates an intimate atmosphere that is warm and inviting. The 13 easy-to-follow recipes hint at even greater possibilities ahead for all those hoping to follow in Lawson’s footsteps. An especially helpful feature allowing users to input their own notes right in the body of each selection is also well-considered. “Nigella’s Christmas Latin Loves,” meanwhile, should inspire lots of festive planning; restrained use of sound and animation embellish Lawson’s glosses on such Italian favorites as pancetta and Fiats. The photos found in “The Making of Nigellissima” beautifully round out the app’s overall sensory appeal. A handy if hardly original social media section also allows users to immediately compare their impressions with others. 

An effectively immersive introduction to the world of a true culinary star.