Mario Matassa brings us some of the best culinary delights from this beautiful stretch of the Ligurian coast – including some exquisite ways to cook fresh fish… With its tiny bays, little ports and multicoloured houses, the Cinque Terre is a landscape image that stands among the finest Italy has to offer. This little stretch […]
Jon Bickley shares his guide to the best places to eat in Ostuni in Puglia – with a few highlights from the nearby area too… Photos by Jon Bickley Ristorante Antiche Mura Cosy little restaurant (left) specialising in fresh fish (closed on Tuesdays). Via Roma, 11 – 70044 Polignano a Mare Ristorante Trullo d’Oro A […]
We could give you 100 reasons to visit Italy’s capital, but here we’re focusing on just the gastronomic highlights – here are our foodie tips for Rome! Images by iStock and iStockfood 1 One of the best ways to start the day in Rome, as it is in the rest of Italy, is […]
Northwest Italy isn’t just about world-beating reds – it’s home to some stunning whites too. We take a look at some of the finest Piedmont white wines on offer Piedmont has long been a wealthy centre of industry, benefitting from good trade and transport links with the rest of Europe, which helped it on its way […]
Mario Matassa’s simple and satisfying mushroom pasta dish is the perfect solution for a tasty midweek meal. Try it tonight! In Italy porcini mushrooms reign supreme, but this pasta dish can also be made using other varieties, depending on what you have in store (just skip the soaking step if using fresh rather than dried). […]
This ‘trota‘ dish has a spicy kick. Mario Matassa used wild trout here, but with the addition of more chilli pepper, farmed trout also works well In this trout recipe, which has been adapted from a method for cooking trout in the Apennine mountains above Parma, the fish is coated in flour and chilli pepper, then […]
Wild greens (verdure selvatiche) is the name given to greens that grow in the wild. They’re popular in Italy and this recipe by Mario Matassa is a good way to use them Wild greens include a wide range of plants like borage leaves, nettles, dandelions, wild fennel, hops, rocket, garlic leaves, wild beets, wild chicory, asparagus and, of […]
Enjoy this recipe for risotto con bruscandoli by Mario Matassa – it’s a fantastic way to use wild hops… Serves 2 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 20 minutes Ingredients: • 180g risotto rice • a bunch of wild hops, roughly chopped • 1 small onion, peeled, finely chopped • 600-750ml vegetable stock • 30g Parmesan, grated […]
Mario Matassa’s recipe for tagliatelle con ricotta e noci is a tasty early winter treat that can be found in restaurants across Italy Serves 2 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 15 minutes Ingredients: • 160g egg tagliatelle • 100g walnut halves • 150g fresh ricotta • 2-3 tbsp whole milk • 2 tbsp Parmesan • salt […]
Mario Matassa shares a simple but flavoursome recipe for chestnut soup with mushrooms – an Italian autumn classic… Serves 2 Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 30 minutes Ingredients: • 200g ready prepared chestnuts • 200g fresh porcini mushrooms • 500ml vegetable stock • 100ml single cream • 2 tbsp olive oil • salt and freshly […]