February is carnival time across Italy, which means an array of celebrations to suit all tastes and ages. You can get messy in Ivrea, get romantic in Verona or get singing in Sanremo ? plus religious days and food festivals galore? Venice Carnival 26 January-12 February Venice, Veneto Embrace the elaborate masks of this dramatic […]
Although less well-known than its fellow Piedmontese wine greats, Barbera is a fine expression of just what this region is capable of, as Paul Pettengale discovers… Piedmont is an absolute star in the vast world of wine. Some of the greatest wines on the planet originate there ? notably the ?king? and ?queen? of wines, […]
This month we review a brand new guide from Lonely Planet, unlock the secrets of the Roman Empire, learn how to cook with Katie Caldesi and much more in our latest Italian book releases? The Italian Cookery Course? by Katie Caldesi, Kyle Books, ?19.99 (paperback) Review: This is a cookbook that does exactly what it […]
There is no escaping the importance of olive oil ?in Italian cuisine, but what of the modern infusions ?that are becoming increasingly popular?… If you are a cook who treasures time saving techniques, then infused oils are Italy?s very own short cut to flavour. After such a long-standing love affair with olive oil, the country […]
A raised glass of Prosecco is ubiquitous with celebration, so we enrolled the entire Italia! team for this wine review… For this Drink Italia! we?ve gathered together a selection of Prosecco wines to enjoy and to deliver you our verdict. And in a break with tradition, we?ve opened up the tasting to the entire Italia! […]
Hannah Bellis heads to Banca in Mayfair, London to sample their new evening aperitivo. Celebrate this Italian tradition in your own home with a tasty selection of recipes for titbits and light bites created by their talented chefs… On a weekend evening in Italy we would often have seven or eight Negroni cocktails,” the barman […]
Simple and satisfying, there is a blissful array of filled pasta to be found on the market – we taste seven leading brands to find our favourites… Growing in popularity outside of Italy, filled pasta is, for many, the perfect simple supper. The flavours and variations are understandably diverse – from meaty ravioli through to […]
Marina Spironetti has travelled to the Alpine town of Castelrotto to attend a traditional wedding with a difference… It’s a winter Sunday morning and I have a wedding to attend. It’s not going to be the usual ceremony, though. First of all, it’s a traditional one. The wedding couple, as well as all their families […]
Grown around – and even on – the slopes of Mount Etna, the grape varieties that thrive in Sicilian soil make some of Italy’s finest white wines. Paul Pettengale investigates… Wine has been a way of life in Sicily for thousands of years. When the Greeks inhabited the island around 1500BC, they brought with them […]
Le Marche is on the eastern side of Italy, east of Umbria, between the statuesque mountains and the inviting sea… The region is split into five provinces: Pesaro-Urbino, Ancona, Macerata and Ascoli Piceno, and the very recently instituted Fermo. It is easy to get to both the mountains and the sea, which is very appealing […]