1 July 2019 || Calabrian recipes, Cured Meats, Pasta
One of the most well known, traditional products of Calabrian cuisine, “Nduja” is a lean meat salami, made with lard and natural aromatic ingredients (black pepper and sweet or spicy red pepper). Soft, creamy and bright red (due to the high concentration of chilli peppers), this traditional Calabrian treasure is gaining more and more popularity […]
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9 April 2019 || Desserts, Easter, Eat your way around Italy, Italian life
Happy Italian Easter! Much less commercialised than in the UK, Italian Easter celebrations focus on food, friends and family. They also focus on the more solemn, religious aspects of the holiday. Like many Italian holidays, Holy Week is characterised by rituals and traditions, and celebrated in many diverse ways across Italy, which reflect the regional differences. […]
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5 April 2019 || Pasta, Recipes
A relatively unknown delight, Bottarga was first produced by the Phoenecians and has grown in popularity in Europe in recent years. Unlike anything you will have tasted before, this delicacy is versatile and unique! Want to find out more? Read on! What is Bottarga? Bottarga is a speciality of southern Italy – particularly Sicily and Sardinia. […]
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3 April 2019 || Eat your way around Italy, Italian life
Neapolitan Easter Food Traditions The celebration of Easter in Naples is quite an event, combining established religious practices with traditional customs, some of which have pagan origins. Yet, the pivotal part of this holiday for the locals is most certainly the culinary itinerary they will be following! For the typical Neapolitan, food is always an important part of each […]
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3 April 2019 || Uncategorised
To mark the launch of her stunning debut novel we chatted to author Caroline Montague about “An Italian Affair”, her love of Italy and her favourite Tuscan recipe! Vorrei: Tell us a little about your new novel “An Italian Affair”, what inspired you to write it? CM: When I bought my house deep in the heart […]
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28 March 2019 || Italian life
Ever heard of a ‘Suspended Coffee’? It’s probably not what you imagine! Find out more about this simple act of kindness which originated in war time Naples. An oversized brown Italian moka coffee pot stands in a prime location outside the historic Gran Caffe Gambrinus, Naples, Italy. Inside there contains a number of marked […]
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10 February 2019 || Pasta, Recipes
If you have never tried Sardinian Fregola pasta – now is the time! ‘Fregula Sarda’ looks similar to large couscous but is actually tiny rolled balls or crumbs (fregola means crumb in Italian) made from semolina flour and water. Our fregola have been toasted in the oven which gives them a satisfying unique flavour and mottled texture. […]
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30 January 2019 || Food and well being, Italian life
The word aphrodisiac comes from the name of the Greek goddess of love Aphrodite and since the ancient times people have believed in the power of aphrodisiac foods. But do they really work? Italian cuisine features so many known aphrodisiac foods; Why not create a fabulous meal using as many of the ingredients you can […]
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23 January 2019 || Uncategorised
An Italian Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner It’s almost that time of the year again – Valentine’s Day – the official celebration of lovers all over the world! Saint Valentine, said to be the first person to ever send a note signed ‘from your Valentine’ was of course Italian and what better way to show someone that […]
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16 November 2018 || Christmas
Chocolate and sweet lovers of the world rejoice! Just in time for Christmas, Vorrei has a wide range of unique Italian chocolates and exclusive sweet treats for all to enjoy. Whether you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift or fancy a little treat for yourself, you will certainly be spoilt for choice. Cedrata This […]
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21 October 2018 || Food and well being, Recipes
Steeped in history and dating back to 11th century Calabria, liquorice powder is an inspired choice to add a little taste of Italy to your cooking. At Vorrei, this in demand product is now easily accessible for all to enjoy.Have you ever cooked with liquorice powder? Send us your recipes! Grown in Calabria, ground and […]
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13 August 2018 || Antipasti, Italian life, Recipes, Side dishes
it’s almost Ferragosto, Italy’s traditional midsummer holiday and families up and down the boot will be preparing for their celebrations – menus for huge Ferragosto meals will have been decided upon and the food will be ready to transport to the nearest beach, park or mountain! Now that most Italians no longer disappear on holiday […]
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23 July 2018 || Eat your way around Italy
Beyond pasta and pizza, there’s so much more on offer! We all know of the Italian classics of ragu’, carbonara, pizza margherita, and the like. There are, however, many lesser known yet delicious Italian specialities that perhaps you may not have heard of. Some sound irresistible, some taste much better than they sound, but you’d […]
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18 July 2018 || Pasta, Recipes, Vegetarian
Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe This is one of our family’s favourite quick summer meals. Pasta salad it’s really easy to make and the flavours go really well together. You need just three main quality ingredients: some fresh Buffalo Mozzarella, the tastiest tomatoes you can find (a little more challenging in England than in Italy unfortunately) […]
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10 July 2018 || Food and well being, Uncategorised
Organic food what it is and why we should all get behind it… We hear of organic food all the time, but what it really is and its benefits in comparison with conventional products often remain a mystery to us. That said, Italy offers up a wealth of incredible, organic products and that’s why we’ve […]
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11 April 2018 || Food and well being
It’s likely that you’ve heard of the term “superfood” – a name given to mysterious foods that are said to slow down ageing, prevent chronic disease and help you to achieve an overall better quality of health. From chomping on kale, gorging on blueberries through to drinking mysterious spirulina, incorporating superfoods into your diet is […]
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16 March 2018 || Pasta, Recipes
There’s nothing quite like a simple pasta recipe during the weekdays to make life a little easier. And so, this week, we’re sharing a simple pasta recipe for lovers of cheese: Gorgonzola Piccante to be exact. Combining punchy Gorgonzola with creamy Fontina, topped with crunchy pistachios, this is a hearty dinner for those on the […]
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10 March 2018 || Antipasti, Recipes
This chili bruschetta is full of Mediterranean flavour and really simple to prepare.You can use any type of bread for toasting but a thickly sliced farmhouse style loaf is best. Ingredients for 6 bruschetta: 200g tomatoes 30g Cenzino organic extra virgin olive oil 1 clove of garlic 1 chilli pepper 1 tablespoon of capers 100g Vorrei […]
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4 March 2018 || Food and well being, Recipes
Due to their myriad of health benefits, mushrooms (particularly porcini mushrooms) are set to become 2018’s biggest superfood trend. In fact, we are predicted to spend more than £35 billion on mushrooms over the next seven years, and here’s why. A recent study found that mushrooms contain remarkably high amounts of two antioxidants: ergothioneine and […]
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2 March 2018 || Main courses, Pasta, Recipes
Recipe for Spaghetti with Colatura di Alici Spaghetti with “Colatura di Alici” is really a simple dish, can be cooked by anyone and it doesn’t take much time. In a few minutes, you can serve a dish which is special, healthy and delicious. The Colatura di Alici is an ancient Roman recipe (Colatura derives from […]
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27 February 2018 || Recipes
Pizza – An Italian classic that is cheap and easier to make that you think! Nothing beats the classic Margherita pizza, the original Neapolitan recipe created for Queen Margherita of Savoy in 1889. It’s still the simplest but most loved pizza in Italy today. The story of it’s invention goes that during a royal tour […]
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21 February 2018 || Bread, Cooking tips, Uncategorised
The importance of high quality flour when used in Italian cooking, specifically pizza making, is something that cannot be underestimated. For many, however, knowing what flour to use remains a mystery. After all, how many types can there really be? As one of our most commonly asked questions, therefore, we thought we’d compile a blog […]
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5 February 2018 || Drinks, Vegan, Wine and Prosecco
The bad news about what’s in the wine we drink Over the years, wine making has gradually become more and more industrialised. Chemical pesticides are widely used in its production, from the cultivation of the vines all the way up to wine bottling. Strangely, wine is one of the few food industries that is not regulated […]
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19 January 2018 || Christmas recipes, Desserts, Recipes, Vegetarian
Recipe for Panettone French Toast with Mixed Berries Panettone French Toast is a great recipe for a delicious dessert or a luxurious breakfast using left over Panettone slices. If yours disappeared well before Christmas it’s a great time to find bargain Panettone in the shops, most will have a best before date well into 2017. We […]
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17 January 2018 || Food and well being, Vegetarian
Balsamic vinegar is an original artisan product that hails from Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy. Made from white, sweet grape, it is simmered to a concentrate (known as must) before being left to ferment in wooden barrels: much like wine. The must is moved between different wood barrels over the years of fermentation, so […]
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22 November 2017 || Christmas recipes, Vegetarian, Wine and Prosecco
Catering for vegetarians over the festive period can be tricky – with often uninspiring results! At Vorrei, however, we’re firm believers that vegetarian food doesn’t need to be dull, and delicious Christmas inspired veggie food and drink is more than achievable. To prove just that, below is a round-up of our favourite Italian vegetarian recipes for food […]
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18 October 2017 || Pasta, Recipes
As the nights draw in and the temperature dips, it’s time to replace those summer salads with rich, warm comfort food. Adding Italian truffle to your dishes is the perfect way to add a dash of indulgence to your food this autumn and is easier to do than you think. Below is everything you need […]
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14 August 2017 || Recipes, Side dishes
Spicy Gorgonzola cheese is wonderful for cooking with and can be used in many recipes. It’s great for making sauces, which are ideal for pasta or rice dishes or tasty potato gnocchi. We love it too as a topping for salads or as in this recipe, potatoes. These crushed, spicy potatoes make a quick and […]
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2 June 2017 || Cooking tips, Food and well being
Just How Healthy is the Pasta in your Cupboard? A recent investigation into the most common pasta brands in Italy, some of which are available in the UK, has found the presence of allarming substances such as DON, glyphosate and cadmium in the grains. DON is a toxic component produced by certain types of fungus, […]
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17 April 2017 || Calabrian recipes, Eat your way around Italy, Main courses, Recipes
If you love chilli and foods that have a strong, meaty flavour then you absolutely MUST try one of the tastiest traditional treats from Calabria: Nduja This incredible, spicy salami is a typical Calabrian food and a really versatile ingredient to keep in your cupboard. Traditional Nduja: Some History Amongst all of the traditional foods […]
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6 March 2017 || Desserts, Recipes
Easter is coming and we can’t wait to eat our chocolate egg and a big slice of Italian Easter Colomba cake to celebrate! If you like to try something different there are some great recipes with Colomba Cake, so why not taste this traditional speciality and get baking in a creative, delicious way! 1) Colomba […]
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3 March 2017 || Pasta, Recipes
This beautiful, delicate pasta is shaped like an artichoke leaf and has been hand made with artichokes. It has a wonderful texture and generally pairs well with fairly simple sauces. Ingredients for 4 people 400g Artichoke leaf pasta 4 leeks Chunk of old crusty bread Pecorino cheese Olive oil, salt and pepper to taste […]
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18 February 2017 || Desserts, Eat your way around Italy, Recipes, Uncategorized
Calabria is a breathtakingly beautiful region in southern Italy. It is the “toe” of Italian peninsula, surrounded on three sides by sea and characterised by wide sandy beaches overlooked by stunning hill-top towns. Tipped as one of the ‘Top 52 places to go” in 2017 by the New York Times, this relatively undiscovered region is so far […]
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3 February 2017 || Italian life
Somehow everything sounds so much better in Italian, from simple words such as ‘Fagiolino’ (the word for bean) and ‘Stuzzicadenti’ (tooth pick) to the many ways of expressing ‘amore’. You are never too old (or young) to learn Italian, so in honour of Valentine’s Day, here are our top 10 Italian love phrases: 1) Ti […]
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6 January 2017 || Pasta, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian
Aunt Connie’s recipe for this weekend is easy meat free lasagna with veggies and tofu – a veggie or if you prefer, vegan twist to a staple dish of the Italian cuisine. Follow this step-by-step recipe and make your own, succulent batch of tasty lasagna, full of deliciously healthy veggies and chewy Tofu bites. The veggies […]
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1 November 2016 || Accessories
A collection of lovely Italian kitchen accessories will keep your cooking fun, your kitchen functional and create the right atmosphere for creating fabulous food! Kitchens are the heart of every Italian home! Everything revolves around ‘la cucina’ and we are not just talking about food… The Italian kitchen is a hive of activity, a welcoming place for the […]
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11 October 2016 || Uncategorised, Wine and Prosecco
Nothing says Christmas like fabulous boozy hampers! And here at Vorrei we have an outstanding selection of indulgent gifts that any adult will love, combining delicious Italian treats and some wonderful organic tipples. Your friends, family and colleages will absolutely love these Boozy Christmas Hampers and you will definitely be crowned best Christmas present donor of the year! […]
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20 September 2016 || Christmas recipes, Desserts, Eat your way around Italy, Italian life, Main courses, Recipes
Christmas: what a wonderful time of the year! So wonderful that we are already looking forward to all the merry festivities! And what is more exciting than getting a few, interesting Christmas Recipes on what to cook during those joyful days? Here are five Italian Christmas Recipes you will love! We picked them out just […]
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10 September 2016 || Wine and Prosecco
A Worm Seems To Be The Secret To Italian Sparkling Prosecco Wine Perfection Just a few moths ago the recognized scientific magazine Plos One published an article about a new species of worm, which has been discovered thanks to the work of the fantastic team of Professor Maurizio Guido Paoletti. This worm, which was named Eophilia […]
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10 September 2016 || Pasta, Recipes
This is a healthy but tasty and creamy pesto and chicken pasta dish that’s quick and easy prepare for week-night suppers or weekend lunches. Ingredients for 4 people 320g Rigatoni pasta 4 tbsps Pesto 80g Parmesan 300g Chicken breast 300ml Creme Fraiche 10 Cherry tomatoes Extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper Method Step 1. […]
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10 September 2016 || Main courses, Pasta, Recipes
These gorgeous, huge pasta shells, known in Italian as Conchiglioni (Big shells) or Lumachoni (Big Snails) can be stuffed with all manner of fillings to make a hearty main evening meal for all of the family. This recipe is meatless but you can of course use a cheese and ham or ragu’ sauce to fill […]
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30 August 2016 || Food and well being
The Smart Food Diet: A Bestselling Book That is Changing The Views of Italians on Nutrition A new book on nutrition written by the Italian journalist Eliana Liotta in collaboration with the head of research of the IEO (European Oncology Institute), Pier Giuseppe Pellicci, and the nutritionist who coordinates the Smart Food project at the […]
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18 August 2016 || Drinks, Wine and Prosecco
Summer is finally in full swing here in the UK and the time is just right to take advantage of warm, sunny days and mild, pleasant evenings with a Prosecco cocktail! We know how relaxing and enjoyable a night home with friends can be, so why not make it all the better by creating some […]
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9 July 2016 || Cheese, Recipes
Fontina is an Italian cheese that literally melts in your mouth which has recently been named as one of the top 26 cheeses in the world by the Wall Street Journal! Of ancient origin This cheese has probably been around since the late 1400s but it has been known with the nomenclature of Fontina of […]
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20 June 2016 || Calabrian recipes, Italian life, Pasta, Recipes, Soup, Vegetarian
What is Cucina Povera? Cucina Povera (the kitchen of the poor/frugal cooking) has its origins mainly in Southern Italy and dates back to times when families had no means to provide fancy, expensive foods. History of Cucina Povera Many lower class, country families lived off the little they could afford to buy, but mostly on what […]
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16 June 2016 || Italian life, Main courses, Recipes, Salads, Side dishes
Summer is just around the corner, and how better to celebrate its arrival than with an authentic Italian picnic? All you’ll need is a bit of creativity and some tips on which foods to take with you in order to make your day out feel like a feast amongst the cypress trees in the Tuscan Hills! […]
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7 June 2016 || Antipasti, Recipes, Salads, Side dishes
This is a light and healthy antipasto which tastes creamy and indulgent at the same time. The gorgonzola compliments the bitterness of the Chicory. It’s the perfect appetiser for a warm evening but would also be great served on a large platter at a barbeque. Chicory has a small head of cream-coloured, bitter leaves. This […]
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25 May 2016 || Eat your way around Italy, Italian life
Following on in our series of articles on Italian street food (Street Food in Sicily and Street Food in Florence), it’s time to head to the Campania region, home to one of the most significant cities when it comes to scrumptious food: Naples! Ready, grab your forks…get set…go! Naples Street Food: Neapolitan Pizza and Much […]
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13 May 2016 || Eat your way around Italy, Roman recipes
Over the last couple of weeks the spotlight has been on one particular Italian gentleman: Claudio Ranieri, ex Italian football player turned jubilant Leicester City Manager. The newly crowned King of Leicester was born and raised in one of the oldest but less well known neighbourhoods of Rome – Testaccio, home to some of the best […]
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10 May 2016 || Wine and Prosecco
On the 17th and 18th of April, at the Tobacco Dock in East London, the Real Wine Fair took place. A two-day full-immersion wine tasting event where the best artisanal Italian wine makers were presenting their delicious, natural wine. Natural wines: The New Frontier in Winemaking At Vorrei we take great pride in finding the best […]
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31 May 2019 || Bread
The benefit of making home made bread is that we know exactly what goes into it. Supermarket bought products are often made from extremely refined flour, contain additives that change the appearance and the taste of the bread we buy, as well as preservatives. Not to mention the fact that it comes in unnecessary plastic […]
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8 April 2019 || Wine and Prosecco
In the UK we love Prosecco! It’s easy to drink, fairly low in alcohol, has fewer calories per glass than wine and best of all, it’s affordable at a fraction of the price of Champagne! Since 2009 production of our favourite tipple has tripled. Now 500 million Prosecco corks are popped annually around the world […]
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3 April 2019 || Easter
This year we are excited to be bringing you two very special Italian Easter Cakes, made exclusively for Vorrei by our favourite ‘Pasticcieri’ or artisan pastry chefs. 1) Traditional handmade Colomba Easter Cake by Colavolpe The first is a traditional Colomba (0r ‘Dove’ cake), made with the highest quality materials by our friends at Colavolpe in Calabria (producers […]
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3 April 2019 || Chocolate, Easter, Uncategorised
Want to track down the very best Easter eggs this year? You know, the ones that aren’t too pricey, aren’t packed with ‘E’ numbers, but taste and look amazing? We’ve put together a list of what to look for if you want to find that elusive Easter treat, so read on and spoil yourself this year […]
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29 March 2019 || Italian life, Recipes, Uncategorised
Getting married in Italy is as joyous an occasion as it is in the UK, if not more. A day filled with laughter, tears, and the people we love, Italian weddings, just like ours, are naturally coupled with the finest food, wine, and gifts one can offer. So should you be planning a wedding in […]
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18 February 2019 || Food and well being, Recipes
When you think of ‘superfoods’, kale, goji berries or chia seeds probably come to mind; maybe you don’t immediately think of humble anchovies .. yet they are in fact a superfood, boasting a myriad of incredible health benefits. What’s more, they can be easily incorporated into your diet in a variety of different delicious ways. Packed with […]
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4 February 2019 || Recipes, Risotto
Recipe for Risotto dell’Amore. This unusual, savoury dish ‘Risotto dell’Amore’ combines fruit and rice and works really well. The strawberries give the risotto a burst of flavour without too much sweetness as well as a beautiful colour. We think it’s a great recipe to try for a Valentines meal with a twist! Ingredients for 2 people […]
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24 January 2019 || Cooking tips, Food and well being, Pasta, Uncategorised, Vegetarian
Comfort Food Italian Style Raise your hand anyone who gives in at least once in a while to the pleasure that only a beautiful chocolate cake can give! Let’s talk about comfort food: the food that pampers! Comfort food is that food, that dish that refreshes the soul and the body, the dish that after […]
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23 January 2019 || Pasta, Recipes
Italian recipes can be very simple and cheap to make, you only need the best quality ingredients and little time to prepare them. We are going to propose to you a series of lesser known, regional Italian recipes that you will love and we will start with this very popular southern pasta recipe prepared both […]
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26 October 2018 || Eat your way around Italy, Meet our Producers
In the stunning Italian countryside, just outside Modena, you can discover one of Italy’s hidden treasures. The Acetaia Giusti (Giusti Balsamic Vinegar) was founded in 1605 and through seventeen generations it has grown to be the oldest and most prestigious of balsamic vinegar makers. The family-run company employs traditional methods of production using 600 year […]
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13 August 2018 || Recipes, Vegan
This is one of the few vegan cookie recipes that doesn’t involve complicated ingredients that are extremely expensive and frustratingly challenging to find in most supermarkets. Despite this they still taste delicious and are perfect for any occasion. After having made different variations we found that the Caputo flour gave the best result- it made […]
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6 August 2018 || Italian life
Heading to the seaside in Italy this summer? Make sure you read our quick guide to Italian beach etiquette before you go so that you blend in seamlessly with the locals! 1) What to wear The key word here is ‘glamour’! Many Italian ladies will pack a range of swimwear, pareos, beach dresses, flip flops (often with […]
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18 July 2018 || Recipes, Salads
This is a rice salad with a difference – packed full of mediterranean flavours, simple to prepare and great for a summer lunch, barbeque or picnic. Rice Salad Ingredients for 6 – 8 Portions 500g Arborio Rice 350g Cherry Tomatoes 250g Fresh Pecorino or Feta Fresh mixed herbs such as basil, parsley Chilli Pepper (powder, […]
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18 July 2018 || Pasta, Recipes, Uncategorised, Vegetarian
This easy summer recipe makes a really refreshing and delicate lunch or dinner and could also be make ahead of time to eat al-fresco! Summer Recipe: Ingredients for 4 People 6 Fettuccine nests 10 cherry tomatoes 1 large courgette Dried mixed herbs such as mint, parsley and thyme Fresh parsley Extra virgin olive oil Salt Method Step […]
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16 April 2018 || Eat your way around Italy, Pasta, Recipes
Want to recreate some of Rome’s most iconic pasta dishes? We’ve put together a guide to our favourite Roman pasta dishes which can be prepared at home with just a few ingredients combined in different ways. All of these dishes are simple and incredibly tasty and have been around for years. Roman cuisine is real […]
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23 March 2018 || Cured Meats
We’re delighted to introduce our exclusive new product: Organic Calabrian Black Salami! Vorrei’s latest, exclusive products; including Soppressata, Salsiccia and the infamous ‘Nduja sausage are all derived from Calabrian Black Pigs. Reared by artisan producers in the wilds of Calabria, on Italy’s metaphorical ‘boot’ in Southern Italy, this cured pork is truly some of the […]
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15 March 2018 || Eat your way around Italy, Pasta, Recipes
Recipe for Orecchiette with Anchovies Fillets, Broccoli & Sundried Tomatoes. Orecchiette is a typical pasta shape from Puglia in the heel of Italy, although it seems that originally it was produced in Provence in the Middle Ages using the local whole grain. The name means little ear in Italian. In this recipe we also use two […]
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6 March 2018 || Cooking tips, Italian life
Your complete guide for a perfect pasta dish! Perfect Italian pasta doesn’t stick together, it’s not soggy or lukewarm and you definitely shouldn’t add oil to it! Here are our ten tips for making it just like mamma! 1) Your pan should be as large as possible and ideally nice and tall rather than wide. 2) […]
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3 March 2018 || Desserts, Recipes
A must for chocolate lovers, Modican chocolate is a chocolate full of history made following ancient manual Aztec methods, brought to Modica, Sicily by the Spanish in the 16th century. No one else produces chocolate in this way anywhere in the world and no other chocolate tastes quite like this. Needless to say it makes […]
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27 February 2018 || Cooking tips, Pasta
Did you know that there is a pasta shape to complement every pasta dish out there? In Italy there are pretty strict rules about pasta and sauces. If you are a pasta connoisseur this might all come naturally to you but if not it can all seem a little confusing! No one really knows how […]
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26 February 2018 || Chocolate
At Vorrei, we pride ourselves on sourcing the most authentic, historical and traditional Italian products to share with our customers – and this is no different when it comes to sourcing our favourite Italian chocolate! In fact, we stock a chocolate that is perhaps one of the world’s most best kept secrets: a chocolate that originates […]
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8 February 2018 || Food and well being
It seems the entire world is obsessed with weight loss. There are diet plans all across the internet and shakes, powders, pills, and fad diets that are guaranteed to help you reduce your weight. Nature has provided us with the tools we need to shed unwanted fat, we simply have to know where to look. […]
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26 January 2018 || Food and well being
It can sometimes be hard to find the positives in winter: grey clouds, dark nights and summer days feeling like a distant memory. At Vorrei, however, we think we’ve found the perfect reason to be happy this winter – and it comes in the form of a truffle! Between the months of December and March, […]
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18 January 2018 || Antipasti, Desserts, Recipes, Salads
Balsamic vinegar is most certainly one of the top Italian ingredients that can change everyday foods into a unique, mouth-watering experience. Original Balsamic Vinegar is made from the reduction of grape juice, usually Trebbiano or Lambrusco grapes. The rich, dense liquid that derives from this reduction, called must, is then put into barrels for several […]
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7 December 2017 || Christmas
Christmas would not be Christmas without a delicious spread of food and drink and at Vorrei we’re passionate about bringing the best possible products to the table. To help you put together the ultimate spread this festive season, therefore, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to Italian Christmas party food! This guide is perfect for an informal […]
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7 November 2017 || Christmas, Christmas recipes, Desserts
The festive season is just around the corner and our thoughts (and tummies!) are turning to some of our favourite, festive Italian treats. In Italy, the nation’s favourite has to be the Panettone cake; with the average Italian buying five of these delicious treats over the Christmas period! You can learn more about the history […]
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13 October 2017 || Recipes
In honour of The Great British Bake Off and its first ever Italian Week, we thought it only fitting to dedicate a blog post to one of the episode’s food challenges: pizza! With The Great British Bake Off contestants struggling to create the perfect margherita pizza, we thought we’d lend a helping hand with a […]
Read more12 June 2017 || Cooking tips, Pasta, Uncategorised, Vegan, Vegetarian
Experiment with Black Summer Truffles – All The Flavour at a More Accessible Price! Who doesn’t love the delicious, earthy flavour of fresh truffles? That wintery aroma that fills your nostrils and tingles your taste buds, leaving your mouth watering with craving! Truth is, these special little treats can be expensive just as much as […]
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19 May 2017 || Wine and Prosecco
From New York to Sydney, the world’s most fashionable eateries are all following the same trend: A move towards serving natural wines. Recntly two more of the Big Apple’s most notable restaurants, Rouge Tomate Chelsea and Four Horseman have decided to go natural with their choice of grape juice, and the reason why is very simple. […]
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19 March 2017 || Pasta, Recipes
This colourful Fusilli Bucati pasta dish makes a quick, easy and healthy lunch or evening meal. It literally takes 15 minutes to prepare and tastes as good as it looks! Fusilli Bucati are long spiral spaghetti strands – ours are the real deal from Naples – lovely and firm and springy and they retain their […]
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5 March 2017 || Antipasti, Desserts, Eat your way around Italy, Pasta, Vegetarian
“La mamma è sempre la mamma”: ‘Mum is always Mum,” so goes an Italian saying – a fitting quote to start our Mother’s Day inspired blog post. The mother figure is one of the most important since ancient history, dating back to the Palaeolithic age where Mother Goddesses represented nature and fertility. The female figure […]
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3 March 2017 || Pasta, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian
This paccheri pasta recipe looks so inviting – perfect for a chilly evening! If you can’t find pumpkin, butternut squash would work just as well. Ingredients for 4 people 320g Paccheri Pasta 400g pumpkin 100g gorgonzola dolce 200g button mushrooms 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese Dried rosemary and thyme Olive oil, salt and pepper to taste […]
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9 February 2017 || Cooking tips
The Italian ingredients in a traditional kitchen cupboard will be fairly consistent across Italy, although there are enormous differences between the Italian regions and huge regional variations in cuisine. Below we’ve compiled our top 20 list of the Italian ingredients that you need in your kitchen, in order to make delicious Italian dishes. 1. Extra virgin […]
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25 January 2017 || Food and well being
Chilli lovers rejoice! There’s great news for the red hot chilli pepper lovers among you! Recent studies conducted as part of the National Health Examination Survey III (NHANES) in the US observed more than 16,000 adults over a time span of 18 years and their findings have been fascinating. They discovered that red hot chilli […]
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17 November 2016 || Christmas, Christmas recipes
Christmas time in Italy means an abundance of traditional sweets and cakes to be shared on festive tables and gifted to loved ones. The most popular by far is Panettone! Every year Italians buy on average five of these traditional Christmas cakes and more than 100 million are produced in total. A Sweet Bread Filled […]
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29 October 2016 || Christmas
A Christmas hamper packed full of delicious Italian food and wine will delight every person on your list this Christmas! If the way to someone’s heart really is through their stomach, a food and drink present is always a good idea! At Vorrei we have a brilliant selection of Christmas food hampers and quality food […]
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6 October 2016 || Wine and Prosecco
How relaxing is it to hang out with your best buddies, have a nice dinner and a chat while catching up on the latest news and indulging in a few glasses of ruby red Chianti or a sparkling and refreshing Prosecco? And how frustrating is it to get that awful headache and queasy feeling the […]
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16 September 2016 || Cheese, Pasta, Recipes, Risotto
Italy is without doubt a country with a rich cheese-making heritage. Each individual cheese plays an integral part in the landscape and is deeply woven into the specialities of each region. There are so many recipes associated with the Italian cheeses that we stock, it is always hard to select just a few – they […]
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10 September 2016 || Pasta, Recipes
So it’s back to school time…back to routines and ‘proper meals’ and back to wondering what on earth to cook tonight! At the end of a busy day the last thing you want is to be slaving over the stove; meals must be quick and easy, ideally please kids and adults alike and of course, […]
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10 September 2016 || Main courses, Pasta, Recipes, Vegetarian
This is the classic Italian family recipe for using up pasta – it works really well with spaghetti and tastes amazing – it’s a real hit with our kids who turned their noses up until they tried it and loved it! The spaghetti should ideally be plain (i.e. without any sauce). Of course you can […]
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30 August 2016 || Desserts, Recipes
Tiramisù: The Classic Italian Dessert What’s not to love about Italian desserts?…Crème Caramel, Pannacotta, Zabaglione…they are all absolutely delicious and richly flavoured, moreover, each one of them tells a regional story packed-full of traditions and culture.One of the most famous Italian desserts, known both for its amazing, coffee-infused succulence and for the fact that it […]
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30 August 2016 || Antipasti, Recipes
A Tasty Antipasto with Gorgonzola Piccante Cheese At Vorrei we love figs in all their forms but especially fresh ones at this time of the year. The fresh figs that we find in the UK might not be quite as sweet and plump as those plucked from the tree on your holidays, but if you are […]
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11 July 2016 || Cheese, Desserts, Main courses, Recipes
Taleggio is an amazing cheese from the Val di Taleggio in Bergamo, northern Italy. This cheese has a P.D.O. denomination and so must be produced according to specific EU guidelines, which determine both the area of manufacture as well and the very strict production standards. The specific regions in which Taleggio can be produced are: Lombardy, […]
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1 July 2016 || Main courses, Recipes, Side dishes, Vegetarian
Peppers are amazingly delicious and flavourful and are a very versatile ingredient. Moreover, they are full of vitamin C, B and beta-carotene and are a significant source of calcium, magnesium, iron and mineral salts. Here is our selection of five delicious pepper recipes that can be easily prepared at home and taken everywhere, from the park […]
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16 June 2016 || Main courses, Recipes
This month Zia Connie’s recipe is a traditional Neapolitan dish for the meat lovers amongst you: Veal Braciolette! Aunt Connie’s Veal Braciolette in Chianti Wine Jelly Sauce with Truffle Butter Mash Braciolette are thin, veal slices that are rolled up and are kept in place with cocktail sticks. This dish is a true traditional emblem of the Neapolitan […]
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14 June 2016 || Recipes, Salads
Dreaming of summer we’ve come up with a list of our favourite quick and easy pasta and rice salads – perfect for lunches, light evening meals, barbeques and picnics with friends and family. Pasta and Rice Salads: Great to share! An easy way to make a healthy, nutritionally balanced and tasty meal without having to […]
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1 June 2016 || Food and well being
Hippocrates said: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. Nothing could be closer to the truth, especially when we talk about Superfoods. But what exactly are Superfoods? They are mostly derived from plants – fruits, berries, spices and seeds which are particularly rich in active ingredients and beneficial nutrients which are good […]
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24 May 2016 || Recipes, Side dishes
Welcome to our new column of recipes and ideas (starting with delicious Neapolitan Potato Croquettes) from Zia Connie, a modern Italian Auntie with a passion for cooking! Check our blog posts to find her latest favourite recipes and top cooking tips. But first…meet Aunt Connie! Connie Amato is the 2.0 version of the classic Neapolitan […]
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12 May 2016 || Cheese, Main courses, Pasta, Recipes
This recipe made with aged asiago cheese is perfect for a summer lunch or dinner and it is really easy to prepare. We have used farfalle pasta but you can choose any pasta shapes that you have in the cupboard. Ingredients for four people 400g. Farfalle pasta (butterfly shaped) 200g Smoked Norwegian Salmon 50g Aged […]
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7 May 2016 || Cheese, Main courses, Recipes
Castelmagno cheese is one of Piemonte’s most unique and esteemed cheeses. This DOP cheese (Protected Designation of Origin) can only be produced in three municipalities in the province of Cuneo. Strong, but pleasant and aromatic, this cheese is a popular table cheese and is also used in many Piemonte dishes. Gnocchi with Castelmagno is probably the […]
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Five Delicious Recipes with ‘Nduja Spicy Sausage
One of the most well known, traditional products of Calabrian cuisine, "Nduja" is a lean meat salami, made with lard… Read more
Home Made Bread: Avoid & Solve the Most Common Mistakes
The benefit of making home made bread is that we know exactly what goes into it. Supermarket bought products are… Read more
Our Top 6 Italian Easter Treats
Happy Italian Easter! Much less commercialised than in the UK, Italian Easter celebrations focus on food, friends and family. They also… Read more
Why You Should Be Drinking Organic Prosecco.
In the UK we love Prosecco! It’s easy to drink, fairly low in alcohol, has fewer calories per glass than… Read more
Three Delicious Recipes with Red Tuna Bottarga
A relatively unknown delight, Bottarga was first produced by the Phoenecians and has grown in popularity in Europe in recent years.… Read more
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