Zuppa di pesce (fish soup), is an Italian staple with endless variations. Although this dish looks elaborate it’s really very simple, as Mario Matassa demonstrates… Serves 4 Preparation time 5 minutes Cooking time 15 minutes Ingredients: • 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 2 garlic cloves, peeled • 700g fish pieces such as sea bass, scorpion fish, monkfish, […]
Mario Matassa’s seafood antipasto is delicious and versatile – try it without the tomatoes (just wine, garlic and parsley)… it’s delicious either way! Serves 4 Preparation 5 minutes Cooking 7-10 minutes Ingredients: • 1kg fresh mussels • 500g fresh clams • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1-2 garlic cloves, peeled • a handful of […]
Mario Matassa’s recipe for sardines includes sultanas and pine nuts. You’ll have to remove the fish’s head but don’t be too fastidious about the bones. Just take out the main spinal bone and the larger bones will follow Serves 4 Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 5-7 minutes Ingredients: • 2 slices of fresh white bread • 50g […]
The variations of recipes for sea bream (orata) are countless, depending on where in Italy you happen to be. Mario Matassa’s – baked in an oven with potatoes – is a classic version… Serves 2 Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 20-25 minutes Ingredients: • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 2 large potatoes, peeled and sliced wafer […]
Discover your dream home with Fleur Kinson’s guide to the best places to buy a property in the beautiful region of Lombardy Photos by iStock Lombardy is the economic powerhouse of Italy, and prices here reflect that, especially in the capital, Milan, which is one of the most businesslike and affluent cities anywhere in Europe. […]
Mighty Rome sits in its middle, but the rest of Lazio is a remarkably rural region where pretty hills and sleepy lakesides meet handsome old villages and friendly little towns. Buyers of country homes will find superb value for money, says Fleur Kinson Photography by iStock Rome is one of Italy’s absolutely best-known and […]
Italy’s ‘secret’ northeast corner is an exotic wonderland where three great cultures converge. Golden beaches, inspiring mountains and truly delightful towns complete the enchantment. Property prices are a bargain, says Fleur Kinson Even as a well-travelled Italophile, you’d be forgiven for having only a hazy awareness of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Or for never having heard […]
What could be more enjoyable than a week combining an Italian Language Course in the morning and visits to Bergamo in the afternoon? The Homestay Language Course gives you an ideal opportunity to experience life as a ‘local’ as well as the chance to practice conversational Italian in a friendly environment. Not only will you […]
It’s famous for Venice and other captivating cities, but this prosperous northern region has rural delights aplenty. Buyers seeking good investment or great value for money should take a closer look, says Fleur Kinson. Sophisticated, romantic and beautiful – these words might or might not describe your partner, but they certainly describe Veneto, a lovely, […]
Rachael Martin descends from Milan into the Po Valley to discover the home town of her mother-in-law. Lodi, one of those quiet Lombardy towns so easily reached from Milan by car or by train, is often quoted in the Milan newspapers as the perfect day trip for the Milanese. It’s south of Milan in the […]