Learn about the meaning and origin of the Italian word ‘menefreghismo‘, if you can be bothered… Menefreghista, or someone with menefreghismo, describes a couldn’t-care-less attitude. But it doesn’t just mean someone is laid back. It suggests a mindset of complete apathy or disinterest towards the concerns or opinions of others, skewing a little more negatively […]
Val Nicastro shares the best places to eat, stay and explore in Campobasso… Where to Eat LA GROTTA DI ZI’ CONCETTA | Via Larino, 7 +39 0874 311378 The authentic cuisine of Molise shines in this cosy trattoria. An institution in Campobasso, it serves hearty local delicacies (try pizza e minestra and affunnatiello molisana) paired […]
Every June, locals stage a mesmerising event that’s become a cultural staple for the town of Campobasso in Molise, writes Val Nicastro… Here I am sitting at a table with complete strangers I only met five minutes ago while looking out of the window of my B&B. They gestured for me to join their little […]
As concerns about sustainable farming practices and ingredient nutrition grow, artisanal Italian food producer Seggiano launches a new low gluten index ancient grain pasta, made using a nutritious wheat variety which is over 10,000 years old Coeliacs and those with gluten-associated digestive issues are estimated to make up the 10% of the UK population following […]
Looking for a way to revitalise last night’s leftover veggies? This isn’t it. However, this Italian phrase might come in handy when describing your friend’s rekindled ‘relationship’… The Italian phrase “cavoli riscaldati” is an interesting idiom that literally translates to “reheated cabbage.” However, its meaning goes well beyond this literal translation. It is commonly used […]
Focaccia con peperoni e mozzarella As the days get warmer and the nights shorter, Italians take to one of their favourite pastimes: eating outdoors. The key to a successful summer evening party is to organise a menu that can mostly be prepared in advance. This focaccia recipe doesn’t require any kneading. It does have to […]
After two years of pandemic-imposed travel restrictions, Lorenza Bacino enjoys an extended trip to Lake Como, the Cinque Terre and Sardinia with her teenage daughter… It was with some trepidation that I embarked upon a month-long trip with my 16-year-old daughter as a post-exam treat. She’d been involved in the decision-making from the start, using […]
‘Braccine corte‘ means ‘short arms’, but if someone tells you “Avere le braccine corte“, they’re not referring to the length of your appendages… The Italian phrase “Avere le braccine corte” is an interesting idiom that literally translates to “to have short arms.” However, if someone tells you this, they are not commenting on the length […]
Among the nature and hilltop villages of Italy’s green heartland, Amy McPherson discovers that travelling slowly on foot means seeing and experiencing more… There is something very precious about the steps we take, knowing that thousands have taken the same steps before us, hundreds of years ago. Their mission was to follow a spiritual path, […]
Squeeze every last drop of flavour from your plate with the Italian tradition of “fare la scarpetta” “Fare la scarpetta” is a unique Italian phrase that embodies the country’s culinary and cultural traditions. The literal translation of the phrase is “do the little shoe,” but it’s used to describe the act of cleaning the plate […]