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 […]
Easy Truffled Mac and Cheese
Truffle Mac and Cheese Recipe: This time of year, with heaps of golden leaves on the ground and the smell of damp, mushroomy autumn into winter, brings with it all kinds of culinary scents and flavours. For me, from late October through winter, I crave comfort foods like this easy truffled Mac and Cheese, baked in […]
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 […]
Venison Sausage Pasta
Venison Sausage Penne Pasta – How 2 sausages can feed 2! Sausages tend to come in packs of 4 or 6. If you are me and cook mostly for yourself or one other person, that can mean three or four days of sausages and chips. Or far too much toad in the hole. One solution is […]
Pasta Arrabbiata
The Easiest Pasta Lunch – Pasta Arrabbiata: I was sent some pasta from Cook Italian and wanted to see how good it was. In my view, the best way to test the quality of ingredients is to use them to make something very simple. But, the other joy of this recipe is that it forms […]
Ostuni Truffle Season Menu Preview:
Cucina Pugliese Ostuni Celebrates Truffle Season with a Murgia Tartufo Menu Just a mention of the word ‘truffle’ tends to get me excited. I have to admit though, although I’ve been to Puglia, I didn’t realise that they had their own truffles! Apparently they do, from the Murgia Plateau, a low limestone plateau that is […]
Macaroni Cheese with the Panasonic CS-894 steam microwave
Mac n Cheese Made Easy – a Steam Microwave recipe: Mac and cheese is ubiquitous these days and this comfort food classic has become a mainstay on the menu of a huge range of restaurants. But making it at home can be quite a faff as it involves a couple of hobs, an oven and a […]
Pasta Remoli
Pasta Remoli – A taste of Italy in Westfield Stratford Nestled away in the quieter “foodie” end of Westfield in Stratford is a new edition to the food hall. Pasta Remoli offers high end, handmade pasta which is paired with a delicious homemade sauce of your choice. Essentially, this is a mix and match service […]
Vapiano Soho – A Simple Concept for Fresh Food
Lunch at Vapiano Soho: I wasn’t entirely certain that I would be ‘target market’ for Vapiano Soho. A pasta and pizza restaurant that is part of a German group sounded just a little unlikely. So, I dragged my 19 yr old God Daughter out for lunch, confident that if it wasn’t right for me, it […]
Smoked Cheese Pesto and Pasta
Smoked Cheese and Pasta with Pesto As a single dad I always have to come up with food ideas for my daughter and myself; the challenge being to keep it interesting and healthy. Never knowing what school meals she will have had before she gets home makes planning things difficult, and most meals are thrown […]