If you’re seeking some authentic flavours to pep up your favourite recipes, try some of these quintessentially Italian store cupboard spices and condiments For some, a plate of food is nothing without lashings of ketchup or mustard, for others the secret is all in the mix of ingredients with an added pinch or two of […]
Add the perfect finish to your Italian dishes with our selection of dried herbs and flavoured salts this month – from truffles to ginger, these will add zing to your culinary exploits! Whether it’s a simple twist of the black pepper mill, a pinch of sea salt flakes or something more aromatic, there aren’t that […]
There are hundreds of pasta shapes out there, some more familiar than others. Here we try out seven short pastas – read on and enhance your Italian cooking! With the best will in the world, no one has time to make fresh pasta every day – not even Italians. This is why dried pasta is as […]
Balsamic vinegar is the lifeblood of Italian cuisine, and one of the nation’s most valuable exports. Here, we taste seven of the best… Casanova two-year-old Balsamic Vinegar of Modena From Puglia Shop Online Price £5.45 for 250ml You know it’s going to be a good balsamic when you see the sediment at the bottom of the […]
Olive oil is an essential ingredient in every Italian kitchen, so this month we put seven golden samples of extra-virgin olive oil under the Italia! taste team spotlight… Extra-virgin olive oil is one of the most important ingredients in the Mediterranean diet. It is renowned for its health-giving properties, being low in unsaturated fat and […]
This month, we put some fine Italian chocolate treats to the test – well, it’s a difficult job but someone has to do it… Over the last few decades, Italy has established itself as one of the leading nations worldwide for the production of fine chocolate, making significant inroads, primarily in the gourmet market. Our […]
Whether eaten on its own as a snack, or with a selection of other meats and vegetables as part of an antipasto to share, salami is yet another classic Italian favourite… Go on, for instance, a wine-tasting tour of any Italian region and there’s sure to be one constant: wherever you go you’ll be served some […]
Bears might be particularly well known for loving honey, but so do we. Italia! puts some fine examples of liquid gold to the taste test. It’s time for something sweet… Honey always seemed a quintessentially British ingredient as a child, whether as the adorable Winnie the Pooh’s ‘drug’ of choice, or because of the way […]
When it comes to store cupboard stand ins, they don’t come more handy than a trusty jar of green basil pesto. Italia! put a selection of the classic sauce to the test There are countless classic basil pestos available on our supermarket shelves, but there are many variations on the authentic recipe on offer too. The […]
A good panettone can make Christmas in an Italian household. Notoriously difficult to make at home, most are bought ready made. We taste some high street examples… Whether you consider panettone to be a cake or a bread – strictly speaking it’s a sweet bread – the origin of this traditional Christmas and New Year’s […]