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Tuesday, 21 November 2023

Chef Guido's Pumpkin Risotto, the perfect Autumn dish

Autumn in our family home is a time of evening fires, roasted chestnuts, warm soups, country walks and foraging. The leaves are changing colour and falling from our local fig and walnut trees, near our home in the Sabine Hills. There is a crispness in the air in the mornings and evenings but the days are still warm, so a wonderful time to enjoy living in the countryside.

Autumn (also called Fall) is a natural time of letting go and getting organised (think of trees dropping their leaves and animals getting organised for hibernation), and being Italian, we also think of the wonderful seasonal foods we can now enjoy.

Today, I want to share my favourite family recipe for pumpkin risotto, with you. I am sure you will love it.

Risotto alla zucca e rosmarino - Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
500 g of 'Arborio' or 'Carnaroli' rice, slice of pumpkin, 50g of butter, 1 cup of grated grana cheese, a small onion, white wine, fresh rosemary*, grana padano cheese.

Method:
Make your own vegetable stock by placing a peeled whole onion, whole carrot and a stick of celery in a separate large pot and bring to the boil. Keep this vegetable stock simmering as you make your risotto.
Finely chop the onion and gently fry it in butter. Add diced pumpkin. Add rice and let it fry with all other ingredients for a minute or two, always stirring. Pour in a little white wine and let it evaporate. Pour enough boiling vegetable stock to cover rice. Add a little salt. Stir rice occasionally. Add more boiling stock when necessary. Check salt and add more if necessary. Add chopped rosemary* (sage* can be used instead, if you wish - amount to your taste). When rice is 'aldente' (cooked but firm) add grana padano cheese and stir vigourously.
Serve immediately.

Buon Appetito.

We would love to hear from you: Have you tried this recipe? Please let me know what you think. Leave your comment here, or contact Chef Guido on info@conviviorome.com

Friday, 27 October 2023

Rome Olive Oil Tours in the Sabine Hills

Olive Oil Tours in Sabina, near Rome

Sabina is a region, just north of Rome and famous for it's high quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Harvest time happens just once a year, when the olives turn from green to black and at their best with the highest amount of anti-oxidants. The local farmers are currently harvesting their olives to make their own D.O.P. extra virgin olive oil. (D.O.P. means that the olives are grown, picked, pressed and bottled in the same region, in this case, in Sabina).

If you want to find out what good olive oil is all about, Convivio Rome conducts 2 types of Olive Tours:

1/ A Half Day (3.5 hour) Olive Oil Tour: operating all year round

2/ An afternoon Olive Grove Tour during our 4 and 5 Day Italian Cooking Holidays.

To find out more https://www.conviviorome.com/olive-tour.html

>>>List of Italian Gift Ideas online and in-person

Gift Ideas for You

Tuesday, 9 May 2023

An Italian Mother's Day : ideas from Italy for celebrating the "Festa della Mamma".

Mother's Day in Italy: when it is, how it's celebrated and how you can make it special for your mamma, too.

Do you have an Italian mamma? Or maybe your mother would just like to be Italian!

Whether she's from Italy or would like to be, whether she has Italian in her family history or she'd like to put down roots there - and wherever in the world she may be right now - here are some ideas for celebrating your mother - in Italian style!

When is Mother's Day in Italy?

Many stereotypes exist about the Italian mamma. What is certainly true, though, is that wherever in the world they may be, Italian mothers are still the main focus of the family and family traditions.

Although mothers are respected and appreciated all year round, the "official" Mother's Day - known as "La Festa della Mamma" - is celebrated in Italy on the second Sunday in May. This year Mother’s Day will be on Sunday May 14th! It's a day for families to come together to enjoy each other's company and to thank the person who made it possible.

Everyone who is able to returns to their family home. Those who cannot, make sure they send a card, a letter or a poem.

The day itself centres around activities bringing the family together. In most families, Breakfast will be made for mamma - generally fresh pastries and coffee. Young children will give usually home made gifts of cards and fresh flowers and it's a tradition for young children to write a poem in school, to be given on the day.

Lunch will be held either in the family home or, increasingly, at a local restaurant. This has become the most popular day of the year in Italy to dine out. The meal is always rounded off with a sweet cake, sometimes in the shape of a heart.

Are you looking for inspiration?

We have a list of Italian Gift Ideas for your Mamma on Mother's Day - including online Italian Cooking Classes and in-person activities and experiences in Italy!

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Gift Ideas for Your Mother/Mom/Mum

Thursday, 13 April 2023

Medieval villages, unspoilt natural beauty, fine food and authenticity: The Rieti province.

Toffia is one of the medieval hilltop village in the province of Rieti

With history beginning 2,600 years ago and its unspoiled landscape dotted with ancient medieval villages and monasteries, the Rieti Province, part of the Lazio Region directly north of Rome, is an exciting destination for the independent traveller. Part of its charm is due to the lack of mass tourism which you often encounter in other Italian areas. Authenticity is what the Rieti Province is all about.

The early inhabitants of this area of Italy were the 'Sabines', a highly civilised population that thrived in this region, east of the River Tiber. The Sabines left some truly refined art from 600 BC, including gold jewellery, greek-inspired pottery and bronze chariots. Most of these precious items are today found in Fara Sabina Archaeological Museum. The Romans took over the Rieti province and the Sabine Hills in 290 BC. Cities were built or improved and still today this is one of the most interesting areas of Lazio from an archaeological point of view. During the middle ages the Rieti province grew prosperous and became densely populated, which explains why there are so many 1,000 year old villages built on hilltops for defence.

With 2.5 million olive trees in the Sabine Hills, extra virgin olive oil is the main production

The culture of olive oil is all important for the Rieti province and there is evidence that people have been producing the "green gold" here for at least 2000 years. Olive groves literally cover each and every hillside, with windy roads and pathways making their way between the old, majestic trees. The beauty of the landscape is often associated with Umbria, and in fact Rieti and its territory was once considered part of this region and under Perugia's rule until the 1930's. The Rieti province and the Sabine Hills are amongst the greenest areas of Italy, due to the abundance of water springs, rivers and lakes. It's main aqueduct, called "Peschiera" is one of the largest in Europe and provides pure spring water to three quarters of the City of Rome and of course to the Rieti province as well. The large availability of pure clean water is a blessing for those working in agriculture, and in particular to a young generation of 'neo-rurals', who have recently moved from the city to start organic agriculture in this area.

Lakes are mostly to be found in the east part of the province, the most popular one being the lake Turano. Its clean water makes Turano a great destination for day excursions especially in summer where you can swim, take a rest on the shores and enjoy lunch or dinner on the lakeside.

While the climate is generally mediterranean with mild winters and warm, sunny summers. As you move towards the east of the region the territory becomes more mountainous, with the highest point reaching Monte Terminillo, 2,217 metres above sea level. Terminillo is a winter resort that is fully equipped for ski holidays during winter, while in summer it can be a refreshing escape from the heat, and is especially popular with Rome's inhabitants. Because of the variety offered by its geography, this province of Italy is a hiker's heaven. You can chose easier walks through valleys or more challenging hikes to the top of hills and mountains from where you can enjoy majestic views over the whole region.

Last but not least, the Rieti province has great culinary traditions. Apart from the DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) olive oil which is light and flavoursome at the same time, this is the land of pecorino cheese and ricotta, produced from fresh sheep's milk. The local producers also take pride in their cured meats, including prosciutto, capocollo and, above all, guanciale (cured pork cheek), an essential ingredient of Carbonara and Amatriciana pasta sauces. Wine production is also gaining momentum in terms of high quality, popularity and awards.

Spectacular views and tasty local produce to delight your senses

Amazing sunsets in the Sabine Hills, in the Rome countryside

For more recipes: Guido's FREE recipe e-booklet '5 Minute Pasta'

For more recipes: Guido's FREE recipe e-booklet '5 Minute Pasta'

Wednesday, 25 January 2023

La Ribollita is the perfect soup

It's finally winter here and this is the perfect time for comforting soups, such as Ribollita ('boiled again'), so called because it's even nicer you have it heated up the day after. It's a very traditional dish in Central Italy and it's sometimes called Acqua Cotta ('cooked water'). I made Ribollita yesterday and had it today for lunch with a bunch of friends. Delicious! Here is the recipe. You'll need a big pot.

Ribollita (serves 6 or more)
800g of fresh borlotti or cannellini beans (or 300g of dried borlotti or cannellini beans), 400g of fresh, ripe tomatoes or tinned tomatoes, 1 black cauliflower (almost impossible to find!) or 1 quarter of a regular one, 1 quarter of a cabbage, 500g of beet (similar to spinach but milder flavoured), 1 carrot, 1 celery stick, 1 red onion, parsley, basil, extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, parmigiano reggiano (parmesan) cheese.

If you are using dried beans, they need to be soaked for 24 hours, then boiled in 2 litres of water, a pinch of salt and a little olive oil. Finely chop the onion and fry in oil until translucent, then add tomatoes, beans (if fresh with 1 litre of water, if dried add with its own cooking water). Chop all the remaining vegetables roughly and add the to the soup. Add salt and boil for at least two hours. Add more water if necessary. Serve in a bowl on top of a slice of toasted country bread. Finish off with parmigiano, a little olive oil, pepper and chopped parsley and basil (if available). E' Pronto!

Chef Guido's Ribollita soup topped with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper,
and lots of parmigiano reggiano (parmesan) cheese!

Thursday, 5 January 2023

La Befana, the good witch, arrives January 6th!

Here in Italy, Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) is a recently imported tradition. It is La Befana, instead, who comes down through the chimney, bringing a stocking with sweets and small presents. She is a sort of good witch and a bit of an eccentric elderly lady, flying on her old broomstick through the sky at night. She comes on the 6th of January bearing gifts of sweets for those that are good and bits of charcoal for those naughty children. Adults have great fun with this tradition by setting the scene and building up the anticipation for their children and grandchildren the night before.

photo courtesy of secoloditalia

In Rome, there is a traditional Christmas market in Piazza Navona, that I remember going to as a child. Still today has plenty of Befane strolling around the piazza, while children eat zucchero filato (fairy floss) or mostaccioli, traditional Roman biscuits simply made out of flour, honey and walnuts.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year for 2023 to you all,

from Guido, Sally and Gemma

@ Convivio Rome in Italy