Archive for 'Recipes'

We have written about a lot of different cocktails that come from Italy in the past but, somehow, we have always managed to miss out on, and overlook, the Mi-To. A variant on the more famous Italian classics such as the Americano and the Negroni, it is actually their forefather and, therefore, is the true classic among them all. So, if you have an interest in cocktails, foodie history, and Italian culinary adventures, then this more obscure example is one to seek out should you find a vacation rental in Milan and find yourself spending some time in the city in which it was born or should you be thinking of planning a trip to the area some time in the future and in need of an excellent cocktail pairing to go with your search as you browse our vacation rentals in Lombardy and vacation rentals in Italy.

The Mi-To is the more commonly used name for, and abbreviation of, the Milano-Torino cocktail, a drink that was invented around 1860 in Gaspare Campari’s famous café-bar in Milan by the proprietor himself. Named for the two birthplaces of its key main ingredients – Campari from Milan and Vermouth di Torino from Turin – this truly legendary drink came from a similarly legendary bar and creator. In fact, in addition to being an incredible and game-changing barman and cocktail-inventor, it was actually Gaspare Campari himself who had created the bitters-style aperitif (featuring a closely guarded secret recipe that boasts 60 natural ingredients including herbs, spices, barks, and fruit peels) that would eventually become the famous Italian liqueur that is now named for its creator and is known as Campari and which is such an integral part of the Mi-To recipe.

The Aperol Spritz is more than just a drink in its native Venice, it is an institution and, in recent years, it has become a beloved alcoholic beverage the world over that is just the ticket on summer days. Tart, refreshing, and easy to make, it is the perfect drink to make and enjoy while relaxing during a sunny evening. While a trip to Venice is still a little time away yet, you can bring a little bit of Venice to you by making yourself a Spritz from the comfort and safety of your own home.

Born in 1800s Venice, while the city was part of the Austrian Empire, the predecessor to the Aperol Spritz was the Austrian Spritzer, which was originally a combination of equal parts of white wine and water and was invented by the soldiers, merchants, diplomats, and employees of the Habsburg Empire who were not used to the high alcohol content of Italian wines. As a result, they would ask for some water to be sprayed (“spritzen”, in German) into the wines to make them lighter and it eventually became a drink in its own right.

It is said that variety is the spice of life and these trying and strangest of times are only proving that old truism to be entirely and completely correct. Unfortunately, however, variety is a little harder to come by these days. So, we decided to give you a helping hand by aiding you in bringing it into your own homes in a very handy way, with this simple but delicious Italian cocktail recipe. Make some for yourself and then kick back and relax and dream ahead to when your next vacation in Italy is possible once more. In the meantime, you can simply enjoy the flavours of Italy from the comfort and safety of your own home.

The Puccini is a prosecco or Champagne-based cocktail that is named after the famous Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, who was considered the greatest composer of Italian opera after Verdi. Not unlike a Mimosa, it is a delicious and refreshing cocktail that combines sparkling white wine and fresh tangerine juice. The drink was invented by barman Renato Hausammann, who was hired at the famous Harry's Bar in Venice at just thirteen years of age, worked at various famous institutions throughout the years, and won second place at the National Cocktail Competition in 1959 with his Colonello cocktail. The Puccini's exact origins, as is the case with so many famous cocktails, are somewhat shrouded in mystery and obscurity but it was this drink that brought Hausammann immortality and it has become a favourite all over the world.

Cannoli, popularised in the English-speaking world by the particular fondness of the dessert of Italian-Americans as depicted in film and television, are one of Sicily's best-loved and most enduringly popular sweet treats. Indulgent, tasty, and fairly addictive, if you're trying to conjure the perfect beaches, Arab-Norman architecture, dramatically barren landscape, vibrant culture, and slow and leisurely pace of life of Sicily but can't get there in person, cannoli are just the ticket! Travel with your taste-buds from the safety of your own kitchen today and try your hand at making this delicious dessert until you can savour the authentic flavours in person in Sicily!

Everyone knows that the best part of travelling is getting to try new culinary delights and gastronomic adventures that you might otherwise have never experienced. However, just because we all might be stuck at home right now doesn't mean you have to miss out on this aspect of travelling, with an internet connection at hand, you can readily explore and try out dishes from all over the globe from your own kitchen! So, if you're craving something a little different and want to turn your hand to experimenting in the kitchen, why not try these tasty, unique, and sometimes bizarre, Italian dishes?!