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Ideas for Italian themed week

21 replies

MooseyMoo · 28/04/2020 17:40

We would have been going to Rome for the first time in May half term. I was thinking of doing Italian themed food for the week. Any ideas/suggestions?

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 28/04/2020 18:16

Stracciatella soup is very Roman, and nothing similar in British cuisine, so worth thinking about.

Rome has its own cuisine, with different meals on set days of the week, that tied in with the daily markets. So it might be fun to find out about that, and on one day make the Roman meal for that day.

A seafood linguini would be nice, depending on what is available locally. A stew, perhaps of sausages, served with polenta. If you plan to have something like lamb chops or roasted fillet of pork, perhaps do something interesting with the vegetables, maybe courgette in breadcrumbs.

Another idea might be to look at food from Sicily, and have a Sicilian night? Perhaps you could find some Italian cheeses for lunches, Gorgonzola etc.

Rome is my all time absolutely favourite city, what a pity your trip is cancelled. I hope you get there one day!

Lordfrontpaw · 28/04/2020 18:17

Maybe make pasta?

AtleastitsnotMonday · 28/04/2020 18:43

How about making a filled pasta like this ravioli. Making pasta is one of those things I never get round to doing in normal circumstances!

BrieAndChilli · 28/04/2020 18:46

Pizza - but proper homemade thin crust pizza
Gelato / sorbet
Nice proper mozzarella balls with tomatoes and basil
Risotto

You could do some activities depending on age of kids like match the pasta shape to the type of sauce it goes best with, design a pizza etc

Are any of the Rome museums etc doing virtual tours?

FawnDrench · 28/04/2020 18:55

Ribollita
Arancini
Calzone

Tiramisu
Zabaglione
Semifreddo

Ricekrispie22 · 28/04/2020 18:56

Caprese salad
Minestrone with chunks of ciabatta or focaccia

Risotto
Penne Arrabbiata
Chicken parmigiana
Carbonara
Ragu served with polenta
Gnocchi
Chicken cacciatore

Tiramisu
Semifreddo
Zanaglione
Panna cotta
Biscotti

LeGrandBleu · 28/04/2020 21:19

Rome's speciality is the saltimbocca, a dish of veal with prosciutto, sage and a white wine sauce. Very easy and very tasty

MooseyMoo · 28/04/2020 21:20

Lots of ideas - thank you! These ideas/recipes will give me something to look forward too.

AdaColeman I love the sound of the soup - will give that a try. I really hope we can get to Rome one day. It looks amazing.

It’s been a few years since I made pasta but think the ravioli would be fun to try. Completely forgot we have an ice cream machine somewhere - will have to try and create gelato!

Hmm ricekrispie22 Love risotto and saw Chicken Parmigiana in a magazine recently. Will give that a try too.

OP posts:
GBroGal · 28/04/2020 21:45

Look up Rachel Roddy's A Kitchen in Rome series in the Guardian - lots of recipes there
www.theguardian.com/food/series/a-kitchen-in-rome

GBroGal · 28/04/2020 21:48

Including one for straccjatella mentioned above
www.theguardian.com/food/2020/mar/23/egg-drop-soup-rachel-roddy-stracciatella-recipe

Mominatrix · 29/04/2020 07:28

pasta caccio e eppe is a specialty of Rome and very simple (www.bonappetit.com/recipe/cacio-e-pepe). Alfredo sauce originated in Rome at a restaurant of the same name (devourromefoodtours.com/blog/fettuccine-alfredo/).

Rome is wonderful for artichoke dishes like carcioffe alla romana (braised artichokes), and I second the recommendation for saltimbocca.

DonLewis · 29/04/2020 07:30

You need aperol spritz and nibbles every afternoon.

White pizza.

Italian wine.

AdaColeman · 29/04/2020 08:04

Campari and soda every evening!

violetbunny · 29/04/2020 11:20

My favourite dish is spaghetti vongole so I'd be making that :) Perhaps with some garlic bread, and then gelato for dessert.

lastqueenofscotland · 29/04/2020 12:38

Making your own gnocci is SO easy, that with some home made pesto

Tuscan bean stew and nice bread

Bruschetta

Making your own pizzas

Pasta is actually really easy if you’ve got the time - making your own ravioli could be really fun

Spam88 · 01/05/2020 09:36

Pasta amatriciana (excuse the bastardisation of the Italian language) is delicious and pretty much what I ate every day for my tea Grin after pizza for lunch. YES to aperol spritz! And cappuccinos every morning and an unreasonable number of espressos throughout the day.

Spam88 · 01/05/2020 14:01

OP, I'm going to pinch your idea and do an Italian week next week (god knows I need something to make meal planning more exciting!). It's not just an excuse to make a massive tiramisu, honestly...

AdaColeman · 01/05/2020 14:34

You will need some Limoncello, Santa Marta or Petrone is nicer than Luxardo I think. As you pour it out, be sure to say that it was made by your Grandmother at the family farm in the hills, all Roman waiters say this!

Get some Italian coffee too, Illy or Lavazza should be easily available. Never drink cappuccino later than 11:30 in the morning.

I agree about gnocchi being fun to make. Also silk handkerchief pasta is quite easy, Antonio Carluccio has a nice recipe.

MooseyMoo · 16/05/2020 13:46

Thank you for all your amazing ideas!

Spam88 How did your Italian week go?

OP posts:
Tr1skel1on · 16/05/2020 18:23

What a brilliant idea. I should be in Spain may half term, but obviously won't be.

I'm going to pinch this idea and do a Spanish themed week.

Anyone got any ideas, preferably vegetarian.

I'm going to have such fun researching this, liven up the normal meal planning :)

Spam88 · 18/05/2020 09:30

We enjoyed Italian week ☺️ a few old favourites along with a couple of new recipes, I just finished off the last of the minestrone for lunch yesterday! I have made a tiramisu every week since though 🙈 good job I'm breastfeeding or I would be putting on so much weight in lockdown. How did yours go op?

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