Food and Drink

Spaghetti, pizza, tomatoes, basil, olive oil, Mozzarella, gelato, espresso and cappuccino! Whether it is the climate, the freshness or the love that the Italians put into their dishes food here tastes as Mother Nature intended! In a way only the Italians know, a thousand mouth watering dishes await the intrepid traveller, hundreds of gastronomy specialities. In each region a host of truly tasty typical products are used to create unique dishes preserving traditional flavours and local styles.

Wholesomeness and freshness are the watchwords in all Italy's table specialities, in all of their countless variants, from the Piedmont's Manzo Brasato al Barolo (beef slow cooked in red wine) in the north to Sicily's cassata (Ice cream and candied fruit cake) in the south, from the Risotto alla Milanese (rice cooked with wine, saffron and parmesan) to Campania's mozzarella cheese, from the Veneto's Brodo di Pesce (fish stew) to Rome's Saltimbocca (veal, sage, wine and ham), from the Canelloni (stuffed pasta) of the Ligurian coast to the Florentine steaks, to the Parma ham of Emilia Romagna or the agnello all'arrabbiata (spiced lamb) of Abruzzo.

Click here for a typical Italian Menu with recipes for you to try at home.

A great reason for coming to Italy is (and in many cases simply is) the desire to taste Italian cooking as the Italians really make it. So whether you're enticed by the food at one of the ristorante in the cities famous for their gastronomy, or are quite happy to try the fare of one of the thousand small trattoria, you are sure not to be disappointed. To try something slightly different, what about the family-run osterie you can come across in the most characteristic parts of the historic centres, they specialise in reinventing traditional dishes or rediscovering typical agricultural products such as spelt, barley, wheat, vegetables, and olive oil. Or may be you just drop in at the gelateria to choose from the chewiest, creamiest, freshest tasting array of ice creams on offer, heaven!.

To complement your meal perfectly you will want to order a good wine that is free from the chemical processes so much in use today. Relax and choose an Italian wine - again, the choice is broad, but always satisfying; the bright whites to go with white meats (Frascati from Lazio) , the robust reds for red meats (Chianti from Tuscany), and then there are the rosés and sparkling wines (Merlot Rosato and Prosecco from the Veneto), the fortified wines, the liqueurs, Amaretto and grappa. There is something to accompany each stage of your meal, from an aperitivo at the beginning to a digestif to round off a perfect evening.

There is nowhere quite like Italy to really taste food and drink as it was intended. We can suggest areas to dine or specific restaurants in certain regions where you can experience the Italian cuisine at its best, call us on 08450 545 069 or complete the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch to discuss how we can help.

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