A tale of three cities: Catania

To begin with Chris Allsop took us on a journey through Taormina, today we look at more of the picturesque Ionian Coast On this island of five million people, Catania houses about 300,000 and is referred to as the ‘Milan’ of Sicily; a nod to its economic importance (second only to the capital, Palermo). About half an […]

Italia Moments – Week 6

This week, Venice was a popular focus, the city of love, the kind of place where you want to get lost (as we’re sure you will).  Julia Carpenter sent us this stunning picture of Venice at dusk – ‘A view I could never tire of’. We totally agree! Get your furry friends are at the ready! It’s #NationalDogDay […]

A tale of three cities, first up we visit Taormina

Touring Sicily’s historic and picturesque Ionian Coast, Chris Allsop takes in the sights while contending with the island’s ever-increasing profile thanks to its superb culinary scene, extraordinary history, and all-round Mediterranean pulchritude… Trips are all the sweeter when there’s an unseasonal Arctic blast forecast for the weekend back home. On this gale of Schadenfreude I breezed […]

Barolo Wine – Italia! Icons

Rich and deep and made for ageing, Barolo is Italy’s most famous wine – and the one that brings producers up and down the country the most prestige… When people talk about Italy making truly world-class wines, when they start talking about Italy being on a par with France as a wine-making nation – and […]

Top 3 Ideas for Fast Food

This summer, step away from the burgers and kebabs… Fast food can be a good thing, when it’s Italian of course. Take a look at this tasty trio of quick fixes… Cut and Dried We’re great fans of dried spaghetti for a quick midweek supper, but if you’re cutting down on carbs, why not try Courgette Nests, for […]

Easy Italian Pesto Bread Recipe

Pretty to look at and delicious to eat, this fabulously easy no knead bread is perfect served warm as a dinner accompaniment. It tastes great served cold too, making it a fab way to jazz up those lunch boxes! Easy Italian Pesto Bread   Preparation time 10 mins plus rising – Baking time 20-25 mins – Makes […]

New: Trufflesecco combining two great things

New Opening: Trufflesecco

You guessed it, this new venture brings together two of Italy’s best treats, truffles and prosecco. This article was originally from The Telegraph This bar has brought together the streets of Camden and the elegance of Italy, who knew that was possible? The outer appearance is unassuming however Trufflesecco has graced the North West extravagantly and is the most recent addition to the […]

Discover Abruzzo

Marine snails, Pecorino grapes and square spaghetti, we embark on a gourmet tour of one of Italy’s most striking regions The Abruzzo region is commonly associated with the words forte e gentile (strong and gentle), conjuring up images of the powerful mountains that tower above the tranquil sea just a few kilometres away. It is an area […]

Top Five: Pizzerias

It’s such a controversial question: what is the world’s best pizzeria in the pizza capital of the world? Here are our top 5…   1. Antica pizzeria da Michele Via Cesare Sersale 1/3, Naples Given that there are reputedly 12,000 pizzerias in Naples, it would have been easy to fill our top five with venues […]

Recipes from Venice – Part 2

The most popular soup in Venice is pasta and fagioli (pasta and beans), a hearty combination that warms body and soul during the long rainy season. Risi e bisi (rice and peas) is a simple and yet delicious duo enjoyed especially in the early spring. The local pasta of choice is bigoli, long wholewheat strands […]