What We’re Talking About this August

 1. Pasta School™ With Roberta & Malfy Gin

Nothing says summer like an ice-cold gin & tonic and our amici at Malfy make the very best. From their classic Gin con Limone, inspired by beautiful Amalfi lemons, to their zingy Gin Rosa made with pink grapefruit, we love sipping their delicious gins in the afternoon sun and we invite you to join us for our special Pasta School partnership. Learn the techniques of pasta fatta a mano (pasta made by hand) from our head chef Roberta. The class will also include a special introduction by Malfy to their gin selection and the team will keep the G&Ts flowing throughout!

Classes available on August 7th. Book your place now.

2. National Prosecco Day

We love any excuse to add a little sparkle to our summer dining, and so National Prosecco Day, celebrated on August 13th, is the perfect occasion to pop open a bottle of Italy’s finest sparkling wine. To help you celebrate, our in-house wine connoisseur Lia has selected the dishes on our menu that pair perfectly with Prosecco!

• Crab & Chilli Ravioli with Lemon Butter and Lemon Pangrattato - best paired with a Brut/Extra Brut, which are both dry wines with no sweetness. Seafood and Prosecco tend to pair well together and that match extends to this classic dish. The flavour of the chilli will be beautifully balanced by the Prosecco's acidity and will blend well with the fruity and floral notes.
• Pappardelle with a Wild Mushroom Sauce - Prosecco would work really well here as the woody, earthy characteristic of the mushrooms will balance out with the more vibrant and fruity nature of the Prosecco. We'd go for quite a dry Prosecco, probably an Extra Brut so as not to overwhelm the palate when paired with our rich mushroom sauce.
• Lemon & Mozzarella Ravioli with a Sage Butter Sauce - We'd suggest pairing this fragrant filled pasta with a Prosecco Brut. The bright acidity of the Prosecco will help cut through the rich creaminess of this dish. The delicate lemon flavour of these ravioli will also be complemented by the citrusy notes in the wine.

These dishes are available throughout August. Shop our menu now.

3. Pasta School™ Puglia Edition

For this extra-special class, our Head Chef Roberta will take you on a journey through her home region of Puglia. Of this beautiful region, nestled in the heel of Italy's boot, Roberta says:  “It’s not just the architecture and history that make Puglia so special, it is the food - something I can’t describe. In Bari, for example, you can see many people sitting on the beach, watching the fishing boats come in. Sea urchins are opened, there and then, fresh with a knife, and enjoyed with a slice of lemon. It’s food at its absolute freshest… and this is a very Pugliese moment. The people are special, too: very open, welcoming and full of warmth.” 

Join Roberta and learn the art of making fresh sfoglia (pasta dough) from scratch. In the course of this class you will have the chance to master two different pasta shapes and a traditional pasta filling. There will also be free-flowing Prosecco throughout the session and Roberta will no-doubt keep you entertained with tales of her childhood in Puglia.

This class is on August 13th. Book your place now.

4.  Insider Guides to Italy with Citalia

Dreaming of your next holiday to Italy? We've teamed up with Citalia, true Italy experts who have been crafting tailor-made holidays in il bel paese for over 90 years. Together, we'll be bringing you a series of 'Insider Guides' to some of our favourite regions of Italy, with expert travel tips and wonderful recipes to honour our collaboration. Beginning in Campania, Citalia have shared with us some of the highlights of Italy’s Amalfi Coast, providing expert recommendations with something to offer for everyone. Our second feature explores the region of Emilia-Romagna. With tips for where to find the region’s foodie hot-spots to details of the best historic towns and sites of natural beauty to visit, Citalia have covered all bases to help build your perfect holiday. Our final destination is Puglia, and Citalia know all the secret beauty spots this enchanting region has to offer.

Each of our featured blogs also includes an exclusive recipe from the region we're exploring, to bring you an authentic taste of Italy and whet your appetite for the exciting adventures on the horizon.

5. Ferragosto

Ferragosto is a public holiday celebrated on August 15th across all of Italy.This celebration originates from the Feriae Augusti, the festival of emperor Augustus, who made the 1st of August a day of rest after weeks of hard work on farms and in the fields. Today ferragosto is usually marked with big parties in clubs and on boats and the night usually ends with impressive fireworks displays. It is also a time when Italians enjoy delicious feasts and tasty aperitivi, and we’ve got plenty of delicious dishes on our menu for you to enjoy ferragosto yourselves. Why not indulge in a tasty tiramisù or our aperitivo platter or check out Roberta’s aperitivo guides on our YouTube channel. From how to make the perfect Aperol Spritz to everything you need for an authentic Negroni, with Roberta’s tips you can up your cocktail game for a  summer of festivities!

Shop our menu now.