Vegetable soup with mint, coriander and parsley

Fresh or frozen, peas bring a refreshing lightness to any dish and are therefore often used to lift the spirits of what might otherwise be overly-hearty winter warmers… Vegetable soup with mint, coriander and parsley SERVES 4 – Preparation 5 minutes – Cooking 15 minutes  Ingredients 150g frozen peas 150g frozen green beans, sliced into 2cm lengths 150g frozen […]

Meet the ultimate pasta master, Giovanni Rana

Jenny Crombie travelled to Verona to meet the undisputed king of tortellini, Giovanni Rana, at his restaurant where she learnt the secrets of pasta making from the experts Giovanni Rana’s renowned trattoria Le Tre Corone is perfectly located in Verona’s Piazza Bra. It forms the ideal stop-off for opera lovers before and after performances at […]

Slow Food in Lombardy

To the northeast of Brescia, in the hinterland of the lakes of Garda, Iseo and Idro, there is a celebration of Slow Food gastronomy. Heather Crombie takes a tour… Think of Brescia and the chances are you will picture the lake resorts of Iseo, Idra and Garda. Holidaymakers the world over are drawn to the […]

Parmesan, pea and asparagus risotto

The king of Italian cheeses, Parmigiano Reggiano’s heritage dates back 900 years! Parmesan, pea and asparagus risotto Serves 4 – Preparation 10 minutes – Cooking 30 minutes Ingredients 70g butter 1 onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 stick celery, chopped 150g asparagus, chopped 300g risotto rice 200ml white wine 700ml vegetable stock 150g […]

Top Italian Food and Wine Festivals

How do you choose from the thousands of gastronomic festivals throughout Italy? We’ve made it easy for you with five of the best to tickle your tastebuds… International White Truffle Fair Alba, Piedmont Do you love ’em or hate ’em? Well, if you’ve got a smidgen of Italian joie de vivre coursing though your veins, the […]

Bolognese is best in Britain

What’s the verdict? Italian or British bundle of bolognese? This story first appeared on The Telegraph and was written by XANTHE CLAY.   I was brought up on spaghetti bolognese. Slippery tendrils of pasta wreathed in a great mound of meat and tomato sauce, which we didn’t know was called a ragu, was a regular supper. For us […]

An event every chocoholic will want to attend!

Never mind Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory – it’s this ten-day carnival of confectionery that you’ll really want to get a golden ticket for. Perugia’s historic squares provide a picture-postcard setting for chocolate tastings, sculptures, demonstrations and other activities designed to tease your senses – and the best part is that bikini season is over, so […]

Melanzana scarpone or baked aubergines

This is a very old recipe for baked aubergines. Aubergines were introduced to Italy from China or India in the late 1400s by the Arabs. This can either be served as part of an antipasto platter or as a first course.  Melanzana scarpone  Serves 4  Ingredients 2 large aubergines Vegetable oil, for frying 2 garlic […]

Top Five Chocolate Shops in Italy

There’s nothing like stepping into a shop filled with the aroma of freshly made chocolate. We take a look at Italy’s best chocolate shops to visit if you’re looking for the ultimate chocoholic’s experience Viziovirt Ù S Polo 2898/A, Venice Mariangela, the owner of this popular chocolate shop in the heart of Venice, aims to […]

Tomato and Ricotta Tart recipe

Tomatoes are a most versatile fruit – though they have only been in Europe for some 500 years, hundreds of Italian recipes use them. Here are just four ways of using them as a base for a tasty meal… Tomato and ricotta tart – Sfogliatina al pomodoro e ricotta Makes 1  – 28cm tart – Preparation 20 minutes – Cooking 25 minutes Ingredients […]