Italian Heaven in Elephant at Bottles & Battles A stone’s throw from Elephant and Castle Tube Station, opposite the Southwark Playhouse there’s a gateway manned by security guards in the evenings. A club perhaps? In a way, Mercato Metropolitano has become just that. Despite being just three years old, this massive space of indoor and […]
Pasta Nostra – Old Street’s new restaurant for pastaficionados
Mission highly possible: to make the best pasta dishes in town Pastaficionado – what else do you call someone who loves pasta? And who doesn’t? It’s no surprise that Italian food is officially the most popular cuisine in the world, and this love is led by pasta, eaten in its myriad shapes and sizes. While […]
Twist Kitchen – An Excellent Independent Restaurant in Marylebone
Challenging the Marylebone Food Scene – Twist Kitchen Review. What happens when a couple meet through work, fall in love and decide to follow their passion and set up their own restaurant? In the case of Twist Kitchen, a quirky independent restaurant in Marylebone, the result is one I’d urge you to try for yourself. […]
Hotel Leone, Montelparo – Compact Boutique Hotel With Much More
A Wine Lover’s Break to Hotel Leone, Montelparo, Marche. What happens when you follow your dreams? For Tim and Madeline Jones you end up with a stunning boutique hotel in a picturesque and unspoilt hilltop village in Marche. It just so happens that the hotel was once a Palazzo, part of the village of Montelparo. […]
Win a Brexit Box – Great if we do – Amazing if we don’t!
Brexit Box Italian Consolation! (This post is sponsored by DiForti) Are you a leaver or a remainer? I’ve signed so many petitions I feel like a pop-star now. It’s something of a consolation that many mainland Europeans are behind those of us who would rather carry on within the EU and will be sad if […]
Pesto Recipes to make your Pasta Perfect!
Classic Pesto and some Classy Variations – How to make the Perfect Pesto. The word pesto literally means pounded. So although there’s a common belief that pesto should be made with basil, there are plenty of rather delicious alternatives around. Classic Genoese pesto is, of course, made with basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and […]
Mediterranean Red Pepper and Feta Filo Pie – Store Cupboard Supper:
Red Pepper Filo Pie with Ponti Zero Oil Range: I have a bit of a fetish for those little jars of preserved vegetables that you can buy from the deli counter so I jumped at the chance when I was asked to create a recipe to use some of the Ponti range. Life is now […]
Hotel Indigo London – Kensington and Theo’s Simple Italian – Review
A Perfect London Staycation in Kensington with an Italian Twist Convenience, comfort, style and location are the four things I want from a city centre hotel. Hotel Indigo a boutique hotel in Kensington scores highly in terms of its location – it’s on the Kensington/Earl’s Court border just a two-minute walk from Earl’s Court underground […]
Diforti Italian Foods – Review and Giveaway – 12 days of Christmas Day Seven
An Italian Christmas from Diforti: Founded in 1875, Diforti originates in Caltanissetta, Sicily. Michele Diforti, the great-great-grandfather of the current owners, started his business collecting harvesting and preserving olives. That business was expanded by his son Luigi, who added vegetables and almonds to the range of products available…and then by HIS son Salvatore who […]
Luca – celebrates Aperitivo culture
Aperitivo in London at Luca: I really love Italy; the country, the history, the people, the fashion, the culture, and not least the food and drink. One very civilised custom in particular that I am partial to, originating from the northern parts of Italy, is that of ‘aperitivo’. A great way to meet up with […]