As it’s getting closer to the official start of the Christmas season, we’ve decided to write a little something on the various different Christmas traditions in Italy, to complement our growing list of Christmas recipes (Italy doesn’t have one particular ‘Turkey Dinner’ equivalent). While every region, and often different cities within those regions, has its [...]
There’s some fierce competition laying claim to the invention of Tiramisu – one of Italy’s most famous desserts. This amazingly sweet and delicious dish has spread throughout Italy and finds itself on the menus of restaurants in every corner of the world – whether they’re Italian or not! The Origins of Tiramisu The origins of [...]
Zuppa Inglese, loosely translated as English Soup, is an extremely popular Italian dessert found primarily in the Northern-Central regions of the peninsula – Tuscanny, Emilia-Romagna, the Marche and Umbria. Rich in ingredients, it’s similar to the traditional English trifle, but is nearly always home-made! Sitting in a rustic restaurant in the hills outside the seaside [...]
Spaghetti Carbonara is one of the simplest, tastiest, and most popular pasta dishes in the Italian cooking repertoire. In our house it’s a regular proposition when there’s little time, or scarecely anything in the fridge – which is not to take anything away from this hearty dish. What are the origins of Spaghetti Carbonara Well, [...]
While the palaces and gondolas of romantic Venice might not immediately conjure up this modest but tasty dish, it’s worth remembering that the Veneto is a large region, of which Venice plays just a part, which prides itself on a culture of hard work, industry and agriculture. The spirit of the Veneto is traditionally no-nonsense [...]
There is no one agreed christmas menu in Italy, but in Emilia Romagna – and more particularly in Romagna – there’s little discussion surrounding the primo for christmas lunch – it’s got to be Cappelletti in Brodo! These tasty small filled pasta float in a meaty broth, perfect for warming up both body and spirit. [...]
While you might not have imagined it, Italy is Europe’s largest producer of rice, and the Piedmont and Lombardy regions of Northern Italy are the main areas for rice production (although rice was first cultivated extensively in the Campania region, only taking hold in the agricultural life of the North in the later middle ages). [...]
Panettone, alongside Pandoro, is a christmas staple throughout Italy (and in various parts of the world where Italian emigrants settled, in particular Argentina, Brazil and other parts of Latin America). It’s a type of light bread sweatened with candied fruits, raisins, and lemon zest – and in variations chocolate or custard. Where does the name [...]
By law, in Italy, you can only sell ‘novello’ wine from the 4th of November onwards every year – the new wine fresh from the wine harvest is one of the treats of Autumn when it comes on to the market. What is Vino Novello? In simple translation it’s New Wine – appropriate, but [...]
This recipe, Pollo alla diavola,is one that we got from friends in Tuscanny – though the recipe is found, with variations, in various regions in Italy. Ingredients for Chicken alla diavola One chicken one lemon salt pepper olive oil How to prepare Chicken alla diavola Cut open the chicken, removing the breastbone, and flatten out [...]
