How delicious! Compliments to the cook.
com-PLI-men-ti — stress on second syllable. 'Cuoca' — CUO-ca, stress on first syllable.
Say during or after a meal at an Italian home. Complimenting the food is mandatory. 'Complimenti alla cuoca/al cuoco' (compliments to the female/male cook) is the classic phrase — even if said directly to the cook.
In Italian home hospitality, complimenting the food is as important as eating it. Specific compliments are better than generic ones — 'il sugo è perfetto' (the sauce is perfect), 'non ho mai mangiato una pasta così buona' (I've never eaten pasta this good). The cook's response will be to deny the compliment and insist on mediocrity.
Non ho mai mangiato così bene.
I've never eaten so well.
Hyperbolic but expected and warmly received.
Il sugo è eccezionale — qual è il segreto?
The sauce is exceptional — what's the secret?
Asking for the recipe is the highest compliment.
Mia madre dovrebbe imparare questa ricetta.
My mother should learn this recipe.
Dangerous — your mother's cooking should never be implicitly criticised.
The Italian cook's ritual deflection of compliments ('è una cosa semplice', 'non è niente di speciale') is not genuine modesty — it is the culturally prescribed response. The correct counter-move is to insist on the compliment. This exchange can repeat three or four times and both parties enjoy it.