In this instalment of his series uncovering the secrets of Italian food, Mario Matassa turns his attention to pasta. Read on for a lesson in how you can make the perfect fresh egg pasta too… Photos by Mario Matassa Someone once asked me if it was possible to say that a food is simpatico. This […]
Pasta, grilled vegetables and pesto Pasta, verdure grigliate e pesto ➤ Serves 4 ➤ Preparation 20 minutes ➤ Cooking 10-30 minutes I like to grill my vegetables on the barbecue and cook the pasta on the stove, then combine the pasta dish and eat it while other things that need grilling take up the space on the barbecue. The […]
The delight of eating at a local trattoria is being among real Italians and eating seasonal, traditional food. Mario Matassa shares his favourite establishment with us, and goes behind the scenes of this Italian Restaurant… The local trattoria in Italy is a theatre, a daily stage show where hundreds of life’s mini dramas are eagerly […]
In this edition of our bilingual feature, Tom Alberto Bull tells us about La Settimana Enigmistica, Italy’s most popular puzzle magazine Key words Useful Italian words and phrases to add to your vocabulary. Centinaia di migliaia di Hundreds of thousands of Durante gli anni Over the years È rimasto pressoché inalterato Has remained more or […]
Don’t throw away that stale bread or cold pasta! Explore simple, economical Italian recipes like Frittata and Polpette that transform leftovers into comfort food. For Italians, using up leftover food is a virtue, and one that has been transformed into an artform. The Tuscans in particular are a shining example of this tradition. It’s often […]
Pasta salsiccia e peperoni is a simple, deeply satisfying pasta that celebrates sweet summer peppers and good Italian sausage. Quick to cook and full of flavour, it’s the sort of dish that proves you don’t need much more than excellent ingredients and a hot pan. Pasta with sausage and peppers is one of those dishes […]
There are hundreds of Italian ghost towns scattered across the country. Jenny Oldaker explores their silent streets and tumultuous stories, and discovers the initiatives giving some of them a new lease of life. Think about Italy’s history and what comes to mind? The rip-roaring reign of the dynamic Ancient Romans? The cultural and artistic innovations […]
Mario Matassa shares his verdure piccanti recipe, for preserving a glut of garden vegetables into a piquant pickle that will see you through till next summer. This zesty vegetable preserve is a superb way to utilise your abundance of summer harvest. It bears a strong resemblance to the traditional giardiniera, though the classic version is […]
Heading to Milan and love fashion? You won’t want to miss these top ten things to do in Lombardy’s capital. Fabulous and fast-moving, Milan’s fashion district is an area of both pure indulgence and serious retail business. The district’s other name, Quadrilatero d’Oro (golden quadrangle), loosely refers to four adjoining streets that are home to […]
Indulge in classic cannoli filled with sweet ricotta, chocolate chips, and candied peel. It’s an easy recipe for authentic homemade indulgence in Sicilian style. Jump to recipe Cannoli are one of Sicily’s most celebrated desserts: deep‑fried pastry tubes filled with creamy, sweetened ricotta and studded with dark chocolate and candied peel. Crisp-edged and dusted with […]