Archive for 'Slow Food'

A quick and classic summer dish from Italy that is easy to make, refreshing, tasty, and perfectly light and satisfying is the Caprese salad. Recently, we mentioned this beloved appetiser in our post all about mozzarella. A famous product that is made in many different regions of Italy, it is an EU-protected food made using traditional recipes with slight variations in the kind that comes from each place. First developed in the South of Italy, it is thought to date back as far as the 1st century AD. The Caprese salad itself, meanwhile, is made with mozzarella as well as tomatoes, basil, and olive oil (and often balsamic vinegar) and is named for the island of Capri, from which is it thought to have originated.

As the summer continues to sizzle on, we suggest making yourself a Caprese salad with our recipe while you browse our villas in Campania and then coming and making it in its home region with the freshest and most sun-ripened ingredients from local markets for the full Campania culinary experience. A place where basic ingredients are perfectly ripe and impossibly delicious so even the simplest dishes absolutely sing with flavour, this gem of a destination is a must for foodies looking to vacation in Italy during the summer...

This week, we are talking all things chocolate when it comes to Tuscany. For some, chocolate is not the first culinary delight that they might associate with this beloved region of Italy. However, it is actually a spot that boasts some incredible chocolate brands and shops and cafes serving up the most remarkable chocolate treats. There is, in fact, a whole area known as the Chocolate Valley of Tuscany where there is an intense concentration of these brilliant chocolate producers. So, if you have a sweet tooth and you want to vacation in Tuscany, then these are the destinations and brands to keep in mind.

Tuscany is famous for her food, in general, but many people do not know that she is also a perfect destination for chocolate-lovers. Many of Italy’s most beloved chocolate brands come from Tuscany and those with a sweet tooth will find plenty of delicious things to sample during a vacation in Tuscany. So, browse Italy Villa’s amazing selection of villas in Tuscany and then come and tour these chocolate hot-spots around the region...

Many different towns and regions and areas of Italy are famous for specific food products due to tradition or climate or landscape or a combination of all three. From complex wines and balsamic vinegars, to hearty pasta dishes based in peasant tradition, to unbelievably rich chocolates, to street food favourites that perfectly hit the spot, and more, there are all sorts of incredible culinary treats and experiences to be had if you book a villa in Italy.

For really serious foodies looking to plan a holiday in Italy, it can be a great place to really go back to the basics, find the best ingredients, and learn to really appreciate everything that you are tasting. You can learn so much by studying the key products and examples of produce that are used commonly in Italian cooking. Take, for example, the humble but essential ingredient that is mozzarella. With its delicate flavour and creamy consistency, this versatile ingredient is used in lots of ways. It is eaten with tomatoes, basil, and olive oil (and often balsamic vinegar) as the simple but delicious appetiser that is the Caprese salad, in a starring role on the Margherita pizza, and added to all sorts of pasta dishes like lasagna, stuffed cannelloni, and baked pasta, to make them heartier and bring richness and creaminess to every bite.