It’s hard to believe this was my first visit to Mele e Pere, a Soho fixture on Brewer Street for 15 years. Still run by the same three brothers and their friend who founded it, the restaurant captures the warmth and authenticity of a family-run trattoria from northern Italy.
Emilia’s Crafted Pasta – Victoria
Authentic pasta that’s good for the soul and not hard on the wallet Victoria is Emilia’s Crafted Pasta’s newest restaurant; its fifth and largest, sitting 70 inside over two floors and 30 outside. Opened in August this year, it appears to be doing very well already. When we went early (6:15 pm) on a Thursday […]
Rottura: Italian Tradition Meets London Cool
Opened by twin sisters Emily and Elena, Rottura is a year-old, family-owned Italian ‘Eatery’ in the new riverside Brentford Project development in West London. The restaurant’s name is a mash-up of both of their grandparents’ surnames, Frattura and Romano. With Italian parents from Avellino in Campania and a chef grandad the girls have a great backstory.
Capilungo -Pugliano Café in Covent Garden
Capilungo is an old favourite of mine, a one-of-a-kind Pugliano café and bakery that stands out for authentic food, excellent service and an unpretentious and affordable menu. It’s just a little further down Long Acre than you might normally go, yet still only 3 minutes from the main Market Square.
Parmigiano Reggiano – the king of cheese – Parmesan Biscuits
Parmesan Biscuits with Parmigiano Reggiano. A wonderful hunk of 24-month old Parmigiano Reggiano arrived on my doorstep. It was wrapped in cellophane and tied with a ribbon. What a perfect gift for a foodie under lockdown. Just looking at its craggy edges and deep hue told me something about how it was going to taste. […]
Terra Terra Swiss Cottage – Review
Italy by way of Swiss Cottage – Terra Terra. If I were an estate agent selling property in Swiss Cottage, London, I would take prospective buyers for lunch at Terra Terra. I once lived in the area and had there been a local restaurant such as this I might never have moved. Terra Terra is […]
Pasta Alla Norma
Pasta Alla Norma – Sicily on a Plate: Perhaps this recipe would be better called Spaghetti alla Norma, since that’s the pasta I used. But, this is a classic Sicilian dish with a story. One of the most famous people from Sicily, Vincenzo Bellini was a great composer, particularly of Bel Canto Opera. A signature […]
Perfect Pesto
Italians do it better – Pesto World Championships, Genoa, Italy: It stands to reason that Italians should make the best Pesto in the World. A simple fusion of two kinds of cheese, garlic, basil, olive oil, pine nuts and salt sounds on the face of it like something that could easily be recreated anywhere. But, […]
Panettone Bread and Butter Pudding – A Sinful Leftovers Treat
Ultimate Comfort Food – Panettone Bread and Butter Pudding. One of those superbly easy yet beautifully comforting dishes – once you’ve tried my Panettone Bread and Butter pudding I know you’ll want to make it again and again. Do you like LOVE bread and butter pudding? For me, it’s one of the ultimate comfort foods, ridiculously […]
Stecca Italian Restaurant – Review
Big Flavours in Little Chelsea Hollywood Road in the fashionable Kensington enclave of Little Chelsea has recently morphed into a foodie destination. The latest addition is Stecca, an Italian restaurant serving regional and seasonal cuisine with a ‘light and contemporary touch’. Chef/patron Stefano Stecca grew up in Rimini, a coastal town in Emilia Romagna which […]