Baked Mackerel Fillets Recipe

Filetti di sgombro al forno This is delicious at any time of the year, but I particularly like baked mackerel in early spring with creamy mashed potato. ➤ Serves 2 ➤ Preparation 15 minutes ➤ Cooking 15 minutes ➤ 2 large mackerel, cut into 4 fillets ➤ 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil ➤ 2 tbsp […]

Pasta & Wine: Inside an Italian Restaurant

The delight of eating at a local trattoria is being among real Italians and eating seasonal, traditional food. Mario Matassa shares his favourite establishment with us, and goes behind the scenes of this Italian Restaurant… The local trattoria in Italy is a theatre, a daily stage show where hundreds of life’s mini dramas are eagerly […]

Tagliolini with Parmesan cheese, parsley and cream

Tagliolini con Parmigiano, prezzemolo e panna This delicately flavoured pasta dish is simplicity itself. If you serve it on its own, it will make a filling starter. With salad and some Italian bread, it becomes a complete meal. Use good-quality fresh pasta to cut down on time, because it cooks very quickly, although you can […]

Alta Badia – Skiing & Slope Food

Alta Badia in the Dolomites offers more than just a simple skiing holiday – Rachel Wilson-Couch indulges in the new gourmet concept of Slope Food while strapping on a pair of skis for the first time… Just ski into my arms, it’ll be fine.” Walter, ski maestro at the Corvara ski school looked at me […]

Parmigiano Reggiano Protests

There seems to be something really grating cheesemakers in Italy at the moment – particularly those who produce the infamous Parmigiano Reggiano. Parmigiano Reggiano creators plan to line the streets of Bologna this week, in protest against impetuous imposters that are using Parmigiano Reggiano’s fame to cash in on inferior cheeses that just don’t cut […]

Gourmet Guide To Florence

As well as its touristic delights, Florence has more than its fair share of excellent dining options. Oliver Hunter shares with us some of his favourite haunts… Someone once told me that to live a happy life I should surround myself with beauty. Well, if I was to take up that advice seriously I would […]

Cookery & Wine Holidays Accross Italy

With a cooking culture that is unequalled in the world, many people take gastronomic holidays in Italy to enjoy and learn more about the country’s cuisine… Ecco La Cucina One of the best ways to truly experience a country as beautiful and diverse as Italy is by taking a culinary tour that fully immerses you […]

Best Italian Chocolates This Valentine’s Day

They say the best way to a lover’s heart is through their stomach, and with Valentine’s Day less than a week away, we have reviewed the best Italian Chocolates for you to buy for that special someone… In the last 20 years Italy has established itself as one of the leading nations worldwide for the […]

Harvesting Holidays

The olive harvest is something everyone should see at least once. If you have never experienced it yourself now is the time to earn your share of this year’s crop… Spirit of Italy Holidays Guests will visit an olive pressing facility and bring home a bottle of oil. Harvest Italia 2014, presented by Spirit of […]

Flavoured Olive Oils

Nudo olio d’oliva extra vergine al caffè e al rosmarino Brand new to the UK are these two new flavours of infused extra-virgin olives oils from Nudo: coffee and rosemary. Corrado Corradini is an olive oil evangelist, and tireless experimenter. There aren’t many olive press barons who would be willing to experiment with making things […]