Of all the things Italy does better than anyone else (and there are a lot), Italian cooking has to be the best of the best. Lunches and dinners in Italy can last a couple of hours at a time, with people sitting in every available chair, ordering with gusto and talking between every bite. We understand the desire to linger: Tangles of pasta + salty cheese + a few scraps of pork = heaven on a plate.

The best news? You don’t need to have an on-call Italian nonna to recreate the country’s legendary cuisine at home (although it certainly doesn’t hurt). Here are some ingredients, cookbooks, and kitchen tools to get you started on your culinary adventures. Mangia!