This tempting Italian fruit salad is enhanced by a sweet basil syrup. It’s a perfect dessert for picnics on hot summer days Italians almost always end a meal with fruit. Desserts tend to be saved for special occasions. Normally for a picnic, the custom is to bring a piece of fruit, often a watermelon, which […]
Learn to make a perfect Italian panna cotta with this step-by-step recipe. Serve with a sweet strawberry topping for extra indulgence! All images © Mario Matassa Jump to recipe In Italy, panna cotta, like tiramisù, zabaglione and budino, falls within that category of dessert known as dolci al cucchiaio – desserts that are to be […]
If you’re in the unlikely position of having leftover panettone, this pudding recipe is a delicious way to use it up… Whether it’s a ciambella on the sideboard for the grandchildren after school, or a pandoro or panettone to enjoy over the Christmas season, you will almost always find a slice of cake to hand […]
Torta mimosa is a classic Women’s Day cake, made to imitate yellow mimosa flowers – it is served across Italy to celebrate La Festa della Donna. The 8th of March is the day when women across Italy hang up their aprons, put on their best frocks, and walk out the door – leaving us poor […]
This dish originates from Emilia-Romagna and is served in restaurants throughout the area. Mario Matassa brings us a recipe for these tasty crêpes When choosing a dish for the all-important pasta course, the pasta you choose depends on where you are from. Stuffed pasta cooked in a golden capon broth has come to be regarded […]
Join Mario Matassa for a look at the delights of Italian dolci to recreate in your kitchen Featured photo © Irving Sandoval/Adobe Stock Words and recipe photos by Mario Matassa There can be nothing more evocative and comforting than the wafting aromas of freshly baked biscuits and cakes. Bound up in childhood memories of hearth […]
The popularity of Italian rosé continues to rise – and we don’t just mean Pinot Grigio Blush. We take a look at what’s on offer from a wider range of Italy’s many grape varieties When the sky is blue (and here in the UK we have definitely waited long enough…), it’s time to uncork the […]
Long summer evenings and sunny days mean getting together with friends and family – here’s our pick of Italian summer drinks that everyone can enjoy… Getting together in the summer – whether it’s an event you’ve been planning for ages, or an impromptu gathering on a warm evening – is an occasion to be savoured. […]
Joe Gartman discovers that his morning coffee may require a little lift. Discover more about the history and process of making grappa today! Images by Patricia Gartman The swift Brenta River flows through Bassano del Grappa and is crossed by a venerable wooden bridge, the Ponte degli Alpini (which, incidentally, was designed by Andrea Palladio). At […]
Join resident chef Mario Matassa as he shows us how to make perfect tagliatelle with step by step instructions! When I first moved to Italy, many years ago now, I quickly realised that there was one sure-fire strategy for ingratiating myself with my new neighbours: learn how to make a decent plate of fresh egg […]