12 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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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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19 March 2017 || 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 Franco Apa The first is a traditional Colomba (0r ‘Dove’ cake), made with the highest quality materials by innovative, expert pastry chef […]
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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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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. But mothers have always been mothers just about everywhere in space and time! 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 […]
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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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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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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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12 August 2016 || 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! Ingredients for 2 people 3 Fettuccine nests 6 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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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. Back In The Day Many lower class, country families lived off the little they could afford to buy, but mostly on […]
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16 June 2016 || Italian life, Main courses, Recipes, Salads, Side dishes
Summer must be just around the corner and how better to celebrate its arrival than with a proper, Italian picnic? All you will 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 […]
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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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3 May 2016 || Cheese, Main courses, Recipes
This is a deliciously indulgent recipe – combining creamy Gorgonzola dolce, Mascarpone and chopped walnuts with a cheeky drop or two of Cognac to give your crêpes an extra kick! The crêpes are made with whole grain flour though so you won’t have to feel too guilty about their filling! Crêpes can be prepared in advance and filled […]
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29 April 2016 || Cheese, Eat your way around Italy
After a week of truly bizarre April weather we are really looking forward to some warmer sunny weekends and picnics in the park. All we’ll need is a bottle of Prosecco, some crusty bread, a jar of olives, some sun dried tomatoes and a selection of Italian cheese all paired with delicious jams, jellies or […]
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19 April 2016 || Eat your way around Italy, Main courses, Vegetarian
Aubergine Parmigiana is an Italian must-try! This classic baked, veggie dish combines the rich, earthy taste of aubergines with the juicy, sunny tang of tomato and basil sauce. Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese complete this dish and give it that extra, rounded flavour, typical of Italian cuisine. A name that could mislead you The name itself […]
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1 April 2016 || 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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18 March 2016 || Cooking tips, Recipes, Vegetarian
A classic Italian gnocchi recipe We were always a little scared about making our own potato gnocchi (pronounced ‘nyockee’) so we asked Nonna Giulia for her trusted gnocchi recipe and to show us the process step by step – and it’s actually easier than we thought! Gnocchi make a great alternative to pasta or risotto, […]
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17 March 2016 || Desserts, Recipes
Dried figs are not only deliciously chewy and decadently sweet; they are also an extremely healthy type of food. The fresh fruit is generally available from May through to September, with a slight variation in size (the larger ones are usually available in May whilst between July and August you can find the smaller, sweeter […]
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11 March 2016 || Eat your way around Italy, Recipes, Salads, Vegan, Vegetarian
Italy is an amazing peninsula full of incredible locations, still untouched, in full, natural bloom. One of these enchanting places is the archipelago of the ‘Isole Eolie’, located to the north of Sicily. The Eolian Islands This group of volcanic islands is set in the enchanting frame of Tyrrhenian Sea and is made up of […]
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2 March 2016 || 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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23 February 2016 || Drinks, Wine and Prosecco
In everyday modern life organic is gradually taking over, and it’s not just about sustainable farming or free-range, non-GMO chickens: Nowadays, end consumers are way more informed and conscious about what they are eating and won’t tolerate the addition of shady chemicals or harmful pesticides to their desired products. For this simple reason, organic foods […]
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17 February 2016 || Food and well being
The Mediterranean Diet, according to medical and wellness studies, is the best nutritional regime one could possibly follow. Such a diet follows the eating habits of mainly the Italian, Greek and Spanish cultures that tend to consume foods rich in fibres, loads of fresh fruits and vegetables, and prefer using olive oil rather than butter […]
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11 February 2016 || Food and well being
Needing a little help in the passion department? Don’t worry! We are here to offer you some natural aphrodisiac remedies. The right combination will help you to prepare an alternative “spicy dinner” for you and your partner that will ensure a very happy ending in the bedroom. So, let’s begin! Put aside the traditional oysters for […]
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5 February 2016 || Pasta, Recipes
Giacomo Casanova, the greatest lover of all time, it is said, loved food, almost as much as he loved women! He allegedly feasted on 50 oysters for breakfast every day claiming that they were ‘a spur to the spirit and to love’ and perfected the art of seduction by assuring his many companions that he had […]
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2 February 2016 || Drinks
Coffee has gradually made its way towards the Olympus of healthy and energy-boosting drinks. Over the last few years, many scientific studies have been conducted into the benefits of coffee in contraposition to the undoubtedly negative side effects of its excessive consumption. The positive properties of this incredibly ancient drink are plenty and varied, but […]
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27 January 2016 || Chocolate, Desserts, Recipes, Vegetarian
At Vorrei we are big fans of super hot Italian chilli pepper and we love this Valentine’s recipe for a spicy chocolate fondue with a kick! Surprise your loved one with a fun Valentines Day gift to share! This is a really easy dessert which can be made very quickly just before you are ready […]
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25 January 2016 || Drinks, Vegan, Wine and Prosecco
We love to find out new ways of serving our favourite sparkling wine and were smitten by this Prosecco and ginger aperitivo when we tasted it in Rome at Christmas time. Of course ginger is a powerful aphrodisiac, warming up the body and increasing your heart rate just like chilli! Valentines drinks anyone?! Ingredients For […]
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24 October 2015 || Desserts, Vegetarian
If you are a liquorice lover you’ll love this fabulously decadent dessert! Making Crème Brûlée is easier than you think and the addition of our organic Calabrian liquorice powder gives these gorgeous little pots a wonderful subtle flavour. Ingredients for 10 people 1 litre Double cream 45g Organic liquorice powder 1 Liquorice root 240g Egg yolks […]
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23 October 2015 || Recipes, Risotto, Vegetarian
We love this unusual risotto recipe packed with interesting flavours, it’s pretty quick and easy to make and it’s tasty and healthy too. We have used organic liquorice powder from Calabria, the home of some of the best liquorice in the world. Just a spoonful of this spice ground from the liquorice root gives a wonderful […]
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19 September 2015 || Pasta, Recipes
When it comes to cooking easy, filling and tasty food on a budget you can’t beat pasta! Perfect for Freshers fending for themselves for the first time, a bag of pasta plus a few key quality ingredients can be quickly transformed into a range of satisfying meals that are sure to impress! Once you get your hands on […]
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10 September 2015 || Cooking tips
Capers (flower buds from the caper plant) are a popular ingredient in Italian cooking and give a distinctive aromatic flavour to many recipes. Caper powder is a finely blended seasoning made from sun dried Sicilian capers. Vorrei’s capers grow in the Mediterranean sunshine on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria and are the only ones with […]
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25 August 2015 || Food and well being, Italian life
The pasta protest on the Spanish Steps The movement began on the Spanish Steps in Rome in 1986. McDonalds wanted to open a franchise there and many Italians, who generally have a lukewarm relationship with fast food, were not happy about it. One man was particularly dismayed. Carlo Petrini, the founder of the movement descended upon […]
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13 August 2015 || Antipasti, Italian life, Recipes, Side dishes
Today it’s 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 for […]
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30 July 2015 || Recipes, Salads, Side dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian
This easy and healthy courgette salad with a vinegar and herb dressing is a very popular dish in the hot summers of southern Italy and would be great as a side dish for your barbeque or a refreshing and quick summer lunch (if and when summer arrives in the UK!) Ingredients for 4 people […]
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4 June 2015 || Antipasti, Desserts, Recipes
An easy recipe with the most loved Italian cheese: Parmesan Savoury artisanal ice creams are becoming more and more popular in Italy where in the best, innovative Italian ‘gelaterie’ you can find basil, lavender and camomile, sunflower seed or even Gorgonzola gelato alongside stracciatella and pistachio. Salty parmesan cheese and double cream is definitely an interesting […]
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24 April 2015 || Drinks, Italian life
Savour a rich Italian coffee at home with our 12 serving suggestions! Do you know your caffe macchiato from your ristretto? Your shakerato from your marocchino? We all know that it’s hard to find a bad cup of Italian coffee but did you know how many different ways there are in Italy of drinking this […]
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17 April 2015 || Pasta, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian
A simple but really tasty and satisfying meal with just a few ingredients. Dried Porcini mushrooms can be kept in the cupboard and are just as good as the fresh ones! Ingredients for 2 people: 20g dried Vorrei dried Porcini mushrooms 1 shallot or small onion 1 tablespoon Cenzino organic extra virgin olive oil 100ml dry […]
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11 June 2017 || Cooking tips
The Italian cupboard: 20 basic Italian ingredients that you must have! The Italian ingredients in a cupboard will probably be fairly consistent across the country although there are enormous differences between the Italian regions and huge regional variations in cuisine. Make sure you have most of these ingredients in your cupboard and you’ll be ready to […]
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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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11 April 2017 || 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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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 || Desserts, Eat your way around Italy, Italian life
Happy Italian Easter! Much less commercialized than in the UK, Italian Easter celebrations focus on food, friends and family as well as on the more solemn, religious aspects of the holiday. Like many Italian holidays, Holy Week is characterized by rituals and traditions, and celebrated in many diverse ways across Italy, reflecting regional differences. Celebration in […]
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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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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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5 January 2017 || Christmas recipes, Desserts, Recipes, Vegetarian
Recipe for Panettone French Toast with Mixed Berries Here’s 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 have one […]
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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. We know how relaxing and enjoyable a night home with friends can be, so why not make it all the better by creating some amazing Prosecco Cocktails to share? […]
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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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3 May 2016 || Antipasti, Cheese, Recipes
These savoury biscuits made with both authentic Pecorino and Parmesan cheese are a tasty treat for picnic, parties or just to snack on at home! They are really easy to make, but good quality cheese is essential for the best flavour. We added Pecorino as well as Parmesan to give a sharper, stronger taste to the […]
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29 April 2016 || Eat your way around Italy, Italian life
Following our last post on Street Food in Sicily, here is the second in our occasional series about Italian Street Food, and this time we are in Tuscany! Italian Street Food Delicacies from Beautiful Florence Tuscany is home to some of the most famous dishes in Italy and perhaps not one of the places you might think of […]
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13 April 2016 || Food and well being
With the growing popularity of the Mediterranean Diet, Italian extra virgin olive oil has become the must-have ingredient for a balanced, healthy diet. Everybody wants their own little stock in their pantry and many people around the world are substituting the heavy, saturated fats used for cooking with the lighter choice of extra virgin olive […]
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30 March 2016 || Cooking tips
Italian herbs are extremely helpful when cooking and they also have many health benefits when you eat them on a regular basis. A single herb can totally transform a simple dish of pasta and tomato sauce giving it that extra flavour and authentic Italian taste. Here’s a short list of the dried Italian herbs most of which […]
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18 March 2016 || Bread, Italian life
Italian Easter Bread Recipe This simple, colourful Italian Easter Bread is a real favourite and is prepared by families across Italy in the days leading up to Holy Week. Children have great fun dying the eggs and decorating this braided loaf. This a soft bread with a light lemon flavour. It goes with everything, from cheese […]
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16 March 2016 || Pasta, Recipes, Risotto
7 Delicious Italian Healthy Dinners for Under £5 Per Person Would you like to prepare a delicious Italian healthy dinner for the family but without completely draining your pockets? Well, we have some great solutions directly from our website! Be inspired by our meal plans for under £5 per person feeding a flock of four. Here […]
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9 March 2016 || Calabrian recipes, Eat your way around Italy, Main courses, Pasta, Recipes
A Chilli Explosion ‘Nduja is a very special, spreadable Italian salami typically produced in the region of Calabria (specifically in the tiny town of Spilinga near Tropea) that has a very exceptional taste and texture. It is made up of soft pork meat seasoned with pork fat, chilli and red pepper, which are all packed […]
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1 March 2016 || Desserts, Italian life, Vegetarian
Easter time in Italy, as in countries across the world is a time spent with friends and family. Naturally, every Italian celebration has its special foods that are to be traditionally prepared and eaten during these days and Easter is no exception. The Easter Dove One of these lip-smacking treats is the Easter Colomba, a […]
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23 February 2016 || Eat your way around Italy
Welcome to our first post of a new series dedicated to the marvellous world of Italian Street Food! First of all, let’s clarify what Street Food is all about and where the trend started. Street Food is basically an informal type of meal you can buy from a street vendor or at a market. Usually you […]
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15 February 2016 || 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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11 February 2016 || 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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5 February 2016 || Antipasti, Cooking tips
If you are that type of person that can’t go without a dash of chilli or a sprinkle of hot sauce over every single dish they eat, then keep an eye out for this unbelievable product: chilli jam! Chilli fans would most definitely add that spark of hotness to basically any kind of food, from […]
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31 January 2016 || Italian life
We celebrate Valentines Day every year, but who exactly was the Saint of Lovers? 1) St. Valentine isn’t just the Patron Saint of courting & engaged couples, lovers, love and happy marriages; his remit also includes epilepsy, fainting, greetings, plague, travellers, young people and … bee keepers (he is said to ensure the sweetness of […]
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25 January 2016 || Uncategorised
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 you love them than by preparing […]
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18 January 2016 || Recipes, Risotto, Vegetarian
Open a couple of bottles of your favourite Prosecco (one to sip whilst taking turns stirring and one to cook with) and have fun in the kitchen on Valentine’s Day with this delicious, warming Italian risotto recipe. Good quality Italian ingredients are the key for this recipe – we recommend Carnaroli or Arborio Italian risotto […]
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24 October 2015 || Eat your way around Italy, Pasta, Vegetarian
This is a traditional Neapolitan pasta dish, simple to make and suitable for a quick lunch but without sacrificing taste! It’s packed full of tasty Southern Italian flavours and typical local ingredients such as mozzarella and tomatoes. This Fusilli pasta recipe can be followed exactly as it is or used as a base – feel […]
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1 October 2015 || Fish and seafood, Pasta, Recipes, Salads
Colatura di Alici, the fishy Italian sauce known in ancient Roman times as ‘Garum’ is a magical amber essence extracted from fresh anchovies which have been preserved with salt inside a chestnut barrel with a heavy weight on top of them! The name Colatura comes from the verb ‘colare’ which means to drip or to […]
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14 September 2015 || Calabrian recipes, Main courses, Pasta, Recipes, Vegetarian
Paccheri alla Parmigiana Parmigiana is a traditional dish made from aubergines. It originally comes from Sicily, but is found in slightly different variations all over the South of Italy. There are many different methods and recipes for making Parmigiana. We have chosen an old Calabrian one (adapted by regional Chef Valentina Olivieri). Valentina’s recipe makes a very soft and delicate […]
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10 September 2015 || Main courses, Pasta, Recipes, Salads, Side dishes, Vegetarian
Do you often make way too much pasta and end up with a pan full after your meal? The fight against food waste can start in the kitchen with these 3 tasty recipes which will help you recycle your leftover pasta! We recommend using Vorrei’s bronze die cut pasta in all of your pasta dishes. It retains its […]
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25 August 2015 || Food and well being, Italian life
The Mediterranean Diet Did you know that the Italians live on average 18 months longer than the Brits? A comparison of health outcomes in 19 countries over 20 years published in the Lancet put Britain at number 14 in the life expectancy table, down two places since 1990. Italy fared much better rising from 5th to […]
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31 July 2015 || Recipes, Salads, Vegan, Vegetarian
Did you know that pears can be an excellent source of dietary fibres? And using them in a salad makes them even more exotic! Pears can be perfect in a salad as their sweetness will balance out the salt and pepper and other ingredients. We will also be using hazelnut vinaigrette, made with authentic balsamic […]
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26 June 2015 || 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. Ingredients for 6 – 8 portions 500g Carnaroli rice 350g Cherry tomatoes 250g Feta Fresh mixed herbs such as basil, parsley Chilli pepper (powder or fresh) Aubergines in […]
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1 May 2015 || Calabrian recipes, Pasta, Recipes
Easy to prepare pasta & broccoli, Calabrian style This recipe originated in Southern Italy and has to be one of the easiest ever pasta dishes to prepare. You need just two or three ingredients and the pasta and broccoli are cooked in the same pan! The garlic oil (with or without anchovies) added at the […]
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22 April 2015 || Pasta, Recipes, Vegetarian
Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe This is one of our family’s favourite quick summer meals. It’s really easy to make and the flavours go really well together. You need just three main quality ingredients: some fresh Mozzarella, the tastiest tomatoes you can find (a little more challenging in England than in Italy unfortunately) and some pasta that […]
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3 April 2015 || Recipes, Risotto
Recipe for Risotto with Gorgonzola and Pear Mustard This week’s easy, super-tasty recipe was given to us by the ladies at Casa Forcello near Mantova in Northern Italy. Casa Forcello is an all-female artisan company which produces our fruit mustards and wine jellies in small batches with fresh fruit from local growers. A fruit mustard […]
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Black Summer Truffles: The Great Taste You Expect at a Price You Won’t!
Experiment with Black Summer Truffles - All The Flavour at a More Accessible Price! Who doesn’t love the delicious, earthy… Read more
The Italian Cupboard: 20 Basic Italian Ingredients
The Italian cupboard: 20 basic Italian ingredients that you must have! The Italian ingredients in a cupboard will probably be fairly… Read more
Senatore Cappelli Organic Pasta – A Mark of Guaranteed Quality
Just How Healthy is the Pasta in your Cupboard? A recent investigation into the most common pasta brands in Italy,… Read more
Going Natural: Why Natural Wines Are The Next Big Thing
From New York to Sydney, the world's most fashionable eateries are all following the same trend: A move towards serving… Read more
Nduja Spicy Salami – A Traditional Calabrian Treat
If you love chilli and foods that have a strong, meaty flavour then you absolutely MUST try one of the… Read more
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