Macedonia con crema chantilly all’italiana Over the summer, it pays to take advantage of the wonderful supply of fresh seasonal fruits. One of my favourite desserts has always been a simple bowl of fresh strawberries with a generous dollop of Chantilly cream. But I also love Italian crema pasticcera (their version of custard, you could […]
Zuppa di pesce There’s something about fish soup that gives it the ‘wow’ factor. The key is good quality fresh fish and adding them according to their respective cooking times. One of the sheer joys of this dish is that not only does it look spectacular but it’s a dish you can dig in and […]
We hunt for the best Italian tomato sauce you can buy in a jar – perfect for midweek pasta suppers and more – give them a try! Making fresh food from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated – in fact, a tomato-based sauce for pasta is one of the easiest to rustle up. Easy yes, […]
As concerns about sustainable farming practices and ingredient nutrition grow, artisanal Italian food producer Seggiano launches a new low gluten index ancient grain pasta, made using a nutritious wheat variety which is over 10,000 years old Coeliacs and those with gluten-associated digestive issues are estimated to make up the 10% of the UK population following […]
Cinque Terre is pretty as a picture, but a colourful coast and stunning scenery aren’t the only things offered by these vibrant seaside villages. Discover five delicious reasons to visit Cinque Terre… 1. Luscious lemons One sight you can’t fail to notice throughout the rugged terrain of Cinque Terre is the many lemon trees that […]
We go behind the scenes of an Italian Christmas with Mario Matassa as he explores the rich and austere festive food and traditions of Italy… To describe a celebration of food as both ‘rich and austere’ might seem something of a contradiction. Yet I can think of no more apt a description of this, the […]
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 […]
Mary Novakovich visited Calabria and discovered the full extent of the locals’ passion for peperoncino in a region of Italy where the love of this fiery fruit reigns supreme. Images by Adam Batterbee unless otherwise stated Of the colours of the Tricolore, red is the one that best sums up Calabria. Not through any political […]
Join resident chef Mario Matassa as he shows us how to make perfect panna cotta with step by step instructions! 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 eaten with a spoon. Very little is known about […]
Join resident chef Mario Matassa as he shows us how to make perfect focaccia with step by step instructions! To say that Italians take their focaccia very seriously would be a simple understatement. Once, a dentist friend asked me if I’d like to take a quick drive with him as he had a hankering […]