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 […]

Mackerel fillets with potato and olive salad

Some of the more complex Italian recipes will take hours to prepare – and just as long to enjoy! – but when you’re in a hurry you’re going to need quick-and-easy recipes.  Mackerel fillets with potato and olive salad – (Filetti di sgombro con insalata di patate e olive) There are lots of different fish called […]

Food and Drink Christmas Gift Guide

Bring a dash of Italian style to the festive season with our gift ideas for the whole family Adopt an Olive Tree For an unusual gift that lovers of Italian food will adore, why not adopt an olive tree? The recipient of your gift will be sent an adoption certificate and a welcome pack, together […]

Top Five: Italian Markets

There’s no better way of buying authentic Italian produce than by rubbing shoulders with the locals at one of Italy’s many bustling markets. Here are our favourites… The Rialto Markets/ Pescheria Venice, Veneto Among the multitude of architectural, historical and scenic ‘must-sees’ and ‘must-dos’ in this iconic city, here is a gastronomic imperative  to add […]

Viewpoint: Pecorino cheese

Delicious wheels of Pecorino cheese wrapped neatly in red radicchio, leek and green cabbage – the pride of any Italian artisan food fair or market Photo by iStock Pecorino is a ewe’s milk cheese that, although pretty well known, often falls into the shadow of the nation’s far more famous Parmesan, for virtue of the […]

Is the world’s best restaurant, truly the best?

Massimo Bottura is one the world’s most famous chefs but do his abstract ideas pay off? The restaurant Osteria Francescana, was named number one in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards this year. It is located in Modena and native, Massimo Bottura owns and runs the show. This foodie palace has been in the top five […]

Warm green pea and bean salad

Fresh or frozen, peas bring a refreshing lightness to any dish and are therefore often used to lift the spirits of what might otherwise be overly-hearty winter warmers… Warm green pea and bean salad with herb-roasted tomatoes or Insalata tiepida di piselli verdi e fave con pomodori arrostiti all’erbe Serves 4 – Preparation 10 minutes –  Cooking 25 […]

Viewpoint: Markets in Pomposa

A solitary market stall in Pomposa, near Ferrara, selling pumpkins of all shapes and sizes in late October of last year. It doesn’t get more Italian – and yet, of course, it’s not Italian at all… Like maize – another crop that is grown very extensively here in the Po Valley – and tomatoes – […]

Top Italian Food and Wine Festivals

How do you choose from the thousands of gastronomic festivals throughout Italy? We’ve made it easy for you with five of the best to tickle your tastebuds… International White Truffle Fair Alba, Piedmont Do you love ’em or hate ’em? Well, if you’ve got a smidgen of Italian joie de vivre coursing though your veins, the […]

An event every chocoholic will want to attend!

Never mind Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory – it’s this ten-day carnival of confectionery that you’ll really want to get a golden ticket for. Perugia’s historic squares provide a picture-postcard setting for chocolate tastings, sculptures, demonstrations and other activities designed to tease your senses – and the best part is that bikini season is over, so […]