Italian Shallot, Gorgonzola and Rocket Risotto

shallot, gorgonzola and rocket risotto

In this flavoursome Italian dish the sweetness of the shallots is beautifully complemented by the robust taste of the blue cheese. It’s a great recipe for dinner parties, or makes a hearty but simple weekend dinner   Serves 4 Ingredients 12 shallots, peeled and roughly diced 320g risotto rice 40g butter 2 tbsp olive oil […]

Drink Italia: Six favourite reds for 2018

We asked our wine buyers to recommend good-value Italian red wines to enjoy this spring and beyond. Here are six we think will become favourites for 2018… Even if you have your ‘go-to’ wines, one of the joys of wine appreciation is finding a new bottle that surprises you and goes on to become a favourite. […]

Drink Italia: Piedmont White Wines

Piedmont’s Gavi and Arneis wines remain in the shadow of the region’s mighty reds, but their star continues to rise in the world of white wines. We take a look at some of the best Piedmont is a region renowned for its bold red wines. Most wine lovers will have heard of its big players: […]

Specialities of Genoa

Seafood Genoa

The northern coastal city of Genoa offers so much to delight prospective visitors – not least the selection of renowned (and lesser-known) food and drinks that hail from this area. Here are a few local specialities to try… Photos by Jon Palmer                           […]

Cod loin, Prosciutto and Red Pepper skewers

Cod, prosciutto and pepper kebabs

These cod, prosciutto and red pepper skewers from Lakeland are simple and delicious. The perfect addition to your BBQ! Ingredients: 500g cod loins, cut into 16 bite-sized chunks 16 slices prosciutto 12 cheese-stuffed sweet peppers in dressing Instructions Wrap each piece of fish in a slice of prosciutto. Thread four pieces onto each skewer, alternating with […]

Panna cotta with raspberries

These vanilla scented creamy panacottas, drizzled in a summer fruit coulis, go brilliantly with fruit, and raspberries and blackcurrants are a winning combination for a delicious summer dessert Serves: 4 Prep time: 25 mins Cook time: 10 mins Ingredients For the pannacotta 300ml milk (full fat or semi skimmed) 300ml double cream 30g caster sugar […]

Asparagus, tarragon & almond pizza bianco

Ever thought of topping your pizza with asparagus? Now there’s an idea… This pizza bianco is quick to prepare and takes just 10 minutes in the oven – it’s the ideal mid-week supper Serves: 2 – Preparation time: 5 minutes – Cooking time: 10 minutes Ingredients 100ml crème fraiche 20g parmesan, grated 2 flatbreads 2 tbsp flaked […]

Top 5 Italian Cheeses

With so many wonderful regional specialities, it’s a hard choice to make, but these five formaggi could rival cheeseboards from anywhere in the world… 1. Mozzarella di bufala Campania It may seem controversial to place mozzarella above Parmigiano Reggiano, but few could argue that this luxurious, creamy delight now has an unassailable place in kitchens worldwide, and […]

Viewpoint, Brunello di Montalcino

Sangiovese is the only grape permitted in the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, where the people of the town make one of Italy’s best wines. But eight years ago, they nearly lost it all… In 2008, a scandal broke in Montalcino. It was said that certain people in this small but highly prestigious DOCG region had […]

48 Hours in Orvieto

Famous worldwide for its white wine and extraordinarily beautiful cathedral, there is much more to the Umbrian town of Orvieto than meets the eye… Any mention of Orvieto will probably bring to mind the popular white wine produced in the area – either that or the magnificence of the cathedral. Before my visit, that was […]