Chef Antonio Carluccio give Bristol cooking demo

Chef Antonio Carluccio visited Bristol to give a cookery demonstration and sign copies of his new book.

The Italian chef, who trained a young Jamie Oliver at his Covent Garden restaurant, dazzled an audience with his culinary skills at the Bristol restaurant that bears his name, Carluccio's in Quaker's Friars.

He chatted to the crowd about his cooking, his book – Antonio Carluccio's Simple Cooking – and offered hints and tips as he prepared pasta with courgette sauce and spinach balls.

He was helped by Chris Graham and Ben Mellin, who are residents of the Emmaus community in St Philip's, a charity that helps people move on from homelessness.

Among the 75-odd people in the crowd was 12-year-old Hollie Dyer, a Year 8 pupil from Nailsea School. Hollie, who attended with her parents, Rachel and Tim, was sent a signed book, a DVD and a card by the chef after her dad wrote to him in June asking for a birthday autograph for his daughter.

She said: "We got to have a drink with him beforehand outside and had a chat about cooking, which was really special. He gave me a book and a bottle of olive oil, and the demonstration was really good.

"I want to be a chef when I'm older and have been a fan of his for a long time. I like how he cooks and love Italian food."

Chris Graham, 41, who works in the kitchen and tends the allotment at Emmaus in St Philip's, helped Mr Carluccio make spinach balls. He said: "Antonio's shown a great interest in Emmaus, and it's great for us to have people like him come and see us and give us a bit of a boost."

After the book signing, Mr Carluccio said: "It was fantastic to see so many passionate cooks. Showing people enthuses them and shows the passion and love for food."

Mr Carluccio no longer owns the Carluccio's chain, after floating it on the stock exchange in 2005.