You Spoke, We Listened.
Get ready to board your flight to Italy!
… We know, it sounds a little too good to be true. In these unprecedented times, many are coming to terms with the fact they may not get to enjoy that long-awaited summer getaway, the highlight of many people’s year. With this in mind, we made it our mission to bring all the romanticism and wonder of the Italian Summer to our customers and peers - a holiday at home, of sorts.
A few weeks ago, we asked you to share where in Italy you wanted to visit, which new dishes you fancied trying, and which new foodie skills you fancied learning. Well, good news! Over the next two months, join us as we take a trip through the regions of Italy, as voted by you.
When asked which regions of Italy you’d most like to ‘visit’ this summer, a whopping 46% of customers suggested they were dreaming of a Tuscan getaway. Similarly popular were Campania, Sicily, and Sardinia, at 39%, 36%, and 27% respectively. And with that, the itinerary was drawn, metaphorical bags packed.
But we didn’t stop there. Caught up in the wanderlust of our emerging campaign, we sought to extend our Grand tour, to include four more weeks of vicarious travel, informed by your responses. Puglia, Venice, Lazio, and Liguria - being the next most popular picks - were added to the itinerary. And with that, the 8 glorious weeks of #ItalyatHome were born!
With the aforementioned uncertainty around the nation’s travel plans, we asked you what content you would most like to see, in an effort to bring a taste of Italy to your home. In glorious British fashion, the runaway winner was an array of Italian summer cocktail recipes (because who can resist an Aperol spritz?), with 51% of customers eager to try some authentic tipples. Every week, then, you can expect a brand new cocktail or spritz recipe, inspired by the region of the week. Think, the punchy Negroni in Tuscany week, or a Malfy Gin Spritz when we ‘visit’ Campania.
47% of you wanted to learn about Italy's regions and their specialities, with another 31% seeking tips on 'things to see and do in Italy from local residents’. 29% of you wanted an Italian summer Spotify playlist, as well as learning a bit of Italian here and there. And to all of this, we gladly oblige. Each week, across our social media and the Pasta Evangelists blog, we’ll be sharing some insight into each region, from food tours, to travel guides, and even some personal accounts of Italy, shared by those native to il bel paese. Our summer playlist is primed and ready, alongside region-specific pasta recipes, in a bid to create the perfect Italian dining experience.
If you were one of the 48% of people keen for a live stream pasta masterclass, featuring summer ingredients, rest assured, we’ve got you covered too. We’re giving our beloved #PauseforPasta masterclasses an estate (“summer”, in Italian) overhaul, with lighter sauces and simple, pasta bianca shapes.
And for those who prefer their pasta prepared for them (no shame there - we’ve got you!), our weekly menu has experienced the same, sun-kissed makeover, with limited edition packaging and menu offerings, inspired by each stunning region. When asked what summer pasta dishes you’d like to see, 42% of you were salivating over pasta "salsiccia e finocchietto", a white sauce from Sicily with rich fennel sausage meat, with 39% dreaming of “pasta al limone”, a creamy, zesty pasta from Amalfi, of course. And that’s just a taste of what is to come - expect vibrant vegan dishes, like pasta with asparagus & lemon sauce (39%), and a vegan puttanesca from Naples (29%). Click the link below to browse our limited edition weekly menus.
While we’d love to share all we have in store for the next 8 weeks, we do want to keep some surprises up our sleeves. With that in mind, we implore you to join us on our #ItalyatHome summer tour, starting 1st June, when we head - vicariously - to Tuscany.
#ItalyatHome
1st June - Tuscany
8th June - Campania
15th June - Sardinia
22nd June - Sicily
29th June - Puglia
6th July - Veneto
13th July - Liguria
20th July - Lazio
At Pasta Evangelists, we bring a taste of Italy to your kitchen. Prepared using the freshest ingredients, our gourmet pasta dishes are perfect for those looking to enjoy restaurant-quality meals, delivered to your door, and ready in under five minutes. Order from our weekly menu today, and we’ll offer you 25% off your first delivery - simply enter the code BLOG25 at checkout.
Well done! Not only are you fulfilling your customers’ wishes but you are also achieving the sort of public relations that others would die for!!
I can’t wait to try all your different regional specialities.
Best wishes to you all,
Annette.