Amaretto tiramisu.
I was recently flicking through some delicious photos taken at one of my Italian dessert evenings in the Spring. I taught a group of 50 students how to make simple yet full of flavour desserts. From fresh Marsala Zabaglione to a palate cleansing summer berry semi-freddo, amaretto tiramisu, affogato and [...]
Soralina – Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oils & pastes from the region of Abruzzo…
Soralina is a family run business working closely with small independent artisan producers in Abruzzo, Italy, to bring authentic products to the UK.Soralina offers delicious store cupboard ingredient to tempt the most adventurous of cooks, offering something a little different. From incredible Extra Virgin Olive Oils, to flavoured oils and [...]
Filippo Berio Gran Cru Regional Oils
Just like a full bodied fine well matured wine, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is a product of soil, climate and olive variety, and is evaluated using careful tasting and quality control procedures. In Italy there are around 500 olive varieties currently grown. Here are the new regional Gran Cru [...]
Good Food Show – Birmingham June 2014
Bees are buzzing and the Summer is upon us, it must be time for the 'BBC Good Food Show' destination Birmingham. On entering the arena I felt like I was being goaded from one delicious stand to the other, my eyes were mesmerised with all that I could see and [...]
Practically perfect spinach pesto..
Spinach pestoThe simplest of dish transforming sauces takes minutes to prepare. Practically perfect spinach pesto. Everyone loves pesto, whether its simply spooned through trofie pasta, stirred into a risotto, seductively drizzled over a tomato and fresh burrata salad starter or used as a topping on toasted bread, slathered over chicken [...]
L’ANIMA – London
L'ANIMA , a modern contemporary and very elegant restaurant and bar situated in the centre hub of the city. A sleek and modern restaurant with a huge sense of sophistication, showcasing superior food, style and vision from the talented and passionate Francesco Mazzei. Francesco's passion is paramount and shines through [...]
Picking and preserving ‘Vitecelle’…….
I grew up on a beautiful farm in a north Bedfordshire village with my sister Daniela. My father is a carpenter and joiner by trade and my mother a housewife and full time mum. We were lucky to just have our farm as a hobby, well a hobby for my [...]
Antipasti and crab picking event.
Carmela's Kitchen not only teaches varied classes but also runs large scale cookery demonstrations and hands on courses. Here I held an 'Italian antipasti and crab picking demo', with the help of the very lovely Adrian Bartlett from Crabstock festivals. I taught and demonstrated various antipasti dishes from a delicious [...]
Nielsen – Massey Vanilla’s, Rose water & Orange blossom.
Nielsen-Massey have been crafting vanillas and pungent delicious flavours since 1907. I have had a little time in the kitchen playing about with different fragrant combinations from vanilla to rose and orange blossom water. Vanilla seems to be a staple in most bakers store cupboards whether it be in the [...]
Focaccia – simple and delicious.
The aroma of freshly made bread can bring a smile to almost anyone, I'm sure. Fresh focaccia is one of the easiest breads to master and incredibly versatile too. There are endless options for tempting toppings from simple rosemary and salt to sun-dried tomatoes and peppers or olive, chilli and [...]
Di Matteau & Da Michele – Naples
I was recently flicking through photos on my laptop when I came across over 700 food snaps from Naples last year (2013). I settled down and began an evening on reminiscing, I started longing to go back, pronto. Any opportunity would take me back to Italy,. However this trip last [...]
PG Tips – Fruit herbal & greens tea
PG Tips have just released a beautiful range of green and herbal fruit teas. A wonderful variety to suit every palate. I used the spice and mint tea to soak sultanas in overnight and then made a vanilla and fruit flavoured ice cream. My favourite fruity tea is the raspberry [...]