It has been reputedly used since 6,000BC, and originates from Greece and ancient Asia Minor, but what of the modern-day oils on offer? Italia! selects seven of the best… We all use olive on a virtually daily basis. It’s become a staple in the kitchens of everyone who loves all things Italian. Arguments will rage […]
Antipasti are a way of life in Italy, and an essential aspect of the nation’s favourite first course of any meal is preserved vegetables. Here we present a selection from the UK high street. Go to any restaurant in Italy and you’ll be provided with the option (and who could turn it down?) of a […]
Easter is very nearly upon us, and the festival of Pasqua is serious business in Italy, with parades and processions throughout the country. Though it’s also a time for sweet treats and, of course, chocolate… Easter wouldn’t be Pasqua without chocolate. The celebration of the resurrection of Christ goes hand in hand with everyone’s favourite […]
It’s among the most prized of sliced, cured meats in the world. Parma ham is always a delight, but how do pre-sliced supermarket-packaged hams fare? Italia! investigates… Truth be told, if you want the very best Parma ham then you’re likely going to find it on the bone, sliced to order, at a local deli […]
This simple ingredient has always been important for the Italian cook, so we embarked on a mission to discover the best Italian passata possible with these seven candidates. At the end of summer, when tomatoes are at their ripest and most tempting, growers all over Italy will be harvesting and cooking them into passata to […]
If there’s one element of Italian cooking that Brits have really taken to their hearts, it’s pizza. We put seven shop-bought versions of the classic margherita pizza to the test. It was humble baker Raffaele Esposito, or rather Queen Margherita of Savoy, who gave this dish its distinctive name. On paying a visit to Naples […]
Simple and satisfying, there is a blissful array of filled pasta to be found on the market – we taste seven leading brands to find our favourites… Growing in popularity outside of Italy, filled pasta is, for many, the perfect simple supper. The flavours and variations are understandably diverse – from meaty ravioli through to […]