When somebody asks me what is my most memorable moment of my Europe trip a couple of years ago, my ten days in Emilia Romagna is hard to look past. With some of the most amazing food I've eaten, unexpected encounters with locals, and a private tour with the owner of an esteemed acetaia, I [...]
Italian food is characteristic in its use of so few ingredients and simple cooking techniques to produce some of the most flavoursome dishes known. This hearty Southern Italian soup dish is a perfect example, and is something I keep going back to when I'm in need of a quick but very filling meal.
Mention the word "pesto" and it conjures up images of the very well-known Pesto alla Genovese, the bright green basil and pine nut condiment from Genoa in the northern parts of Italy. Less known, yet equally as tasty, is its southern cousin - Pesto alla Trapanese, from the fishing town Trapani in the western parts [...]
There is no doubting that the food scene in Emilia-Romagna is quite spectacular, and there is no need to fork out large sums of money for a very decent meal. A great lunch or dinner can be had at one of Bologna's many trattorias, for example, for less than 20€. Sometimes, though, it is nice [...]
I'll get to the point straight away: Rome is an amazing city in every regard, from some of the most delicious Italian food found in many of the trattorias, to the rapid segue from stunning architecture to ancient Roman ruins as you walk around the city. I spent six days in Rome, however I think [...]
To those who like their spaghetti white and their carrots orange, it can be a scary looking thing, but tagliatelle dyed with squid ink is nothing to fear. Typical of various regions of Italy and Spain, squid ink is used to give pasta and risotto dishes a mildly salty flavour with hints of the sea. [...]
I was chatting with a friend on Facebook recently (actually, Belinda from Why Yes, I Do Eat Constantly) about the green curry recipe that I wrote about, and the topic of an Italian-Thai fusion dish came up. At first I jokingly suggested a shrimp paste risotto, which is a dish that I hope nobody ever [...]
The Italian cuisine is so diverse, and every region within Italy has its own unique take on cooking. What ties it all together, though, is the amazing flavours that come from such simple dishes, often with so few ingredients. Give an Italian some olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and some meat, and he will give you [...]
There comes a point in every cook's life, normally after having made Hollandaise sauce or a crème brûlée, when he must decide what to do with the leftover egg whites. Of course they can be frozen, but that is just delaying the inevitable decision that must eventually be made. A quick Google search will yield [...]
The south-eastern Perth hills area is severely lacking in good restaurant options, so I was quite excited to learn that Zia's Ristorante (the Italian translation for Auntie's Restaurant), a family owned and operated Italian restaurant, had just opened. Deep down I was desperately hoping that it would be one of the best Italian restaurants that [...]