Food icons of Italy – this month, Pasta

This month, Mario Matassa continues his delicious journey through the fascinating world of Italian cuisine, tackling, in this issue the all-important first course In a country that is as much defined by its gastronomy as it is by its history, art and architecture, there is perhaps no better place to begin to understand Italy than at […]

Spaghetti with prawns, watercress and pesto

Peppery, refreshing and full of goodness, watercress has been farmed since prehistoric times. Its season is now, though under the right conditions it will grow nearly all year round… Spaghetti with prawns and watercress and pumpkin seed pesto OR Spaghetti con gamberi al pesto di semi di zucca e crescione d’acqua Serves 2 (with leftover pesto) […]

Roasted Vegetable and Watercress Linguine

We take on watercress this week and this recipe is fresh and delicious! Serves 4 – Preparation 10 minutes – Cooking 30 minutes Roasted vegetable and watercress linguine OR Linguine alle verdure arrostite e crescione d’acqua Ingredients 1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and chopped 1 red onion, chopped 2 tbsp olive oil 100g chestnut mushrooms, […]

Ham and Porcini Pizza Recipe

This is a simple but tasty pizza, which can be prepared and cooked in less than an hour. If fresh porcini are available, use 9oz (250g) of sliced, fresh porcini mushrooms in place of the dried ones Ham and Porcini Pizza Serves 4 Ingredients Dough  1¾ tsp (12g) active dry yeast ¾ cup plus 1 […]

Mid-Week Meals: Arezzo Style Bean Soup

Try this hearty, delicious staple from Tuscany, where peasant cooking – or la cucina povera – prevails, and satisfying bean-based dishes like this form the backbone of the region’s famous cuisine Mid-Week Meals: Arezzo-Style Bean Soup Ingredients ¾ cup (5.5oz or 150g) black-eyed peas  2 ripe tomatoes  2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil  1 bay leaf  […]

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 […]

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 […]