Archive for 'Recipes'

Baci di Dama are one of Italy's most famous and popular typical biscuits. The name literally translates to "lady kisses" and they first appeared in the pastry shops of Tortona, a small town in the province of Alessandria, during the second half of the 19th century. Baci di Dama di Tortona have been recently added to Piedmont's official registry of Prodotti Agroalimentari Tradizionali (traditional gourmet products) and are made with hazelnuts, which find their spiritual home in Italy in the region as they are most common there.

Bucatini all'amatriciana, or alla matriciana (in Romanesco dialect), is a traditional Italian pasta dish made with a famous sauce based on guanciale (cured pork cheek), pecorino cheese, tomato, normally, onion. It is now one of the best known pasta sauces internationally and originates from the town of Amatrice in the mountainous Province of Rieti in the region of Lazio. The dish has origins that stretch to a recipe called gricia, which came from the name that Romans (of modern, rather than ancient history) had for bread sellers.

Acquacotta is a traditional dish originating in the coastal region of Tuscany known as Maremma. Literally translated the name means “cooked water” and accurately represents its origins as a peasant dish. It is an old and historic dish that comes from the colliers, or charcoal burners, farmers and shepherds of the area, who were the poorest of people. Despite such humble origins, like many other dishes that were once peasant foods, it remains enduringly popular to this day.

Cannoli are one of the most famous and beloved of all Italian desserts, particularly among Italian-Americans, and are pastries that come from the Sicily region. The origins can be traced back to the Arabs during the Emirate of Sicily and similar pastries are known to have been popular across the Islamic world during that period. They have been traced back to the Palermo and Messina areas and were traditionally prepared as a treat during Carnevale season. The dessert eventually became a year-round staple throughout Italy. In singular form they are known as cannolo, a word that means "little tube" and they are just that, little tube-shaped fried pastries with creamy, sweet fillings, usually comprised of ricotta.

Panettone is, arguably, the most famous cake from Italy. Every Christmas, it is widely available all over Italy. Today, it is also readily available all over the world. In some cases, it can even be picked up in normal supermarkets abroad. This very popular dish originated in Milan and has since won the world over. Why not find a holiday rental in Milan and try it in its spiritual home to get the full experience?

The accounts of the origins of panettone are varied and rarely agreed upon but invariably state that its birthplace is in Milan. The word "panettone" derives from the Italian word "panetto", a small loaf cake while the augmentative Italian suffix "-one" changes the meaning to "large cake". It appears to be a very old dish, going back to Roman times when the Romans sweetened a kind of leavened cake with honey. Funnily enough, however, it wasn't actually associated with Christmas until the 18th century.

Why not try and make it yourself this year? Here's our recipe!