Tag: italian food

We’re calling it, this is the best Italian restaurant in Sydney

casa mia osteria newtown italian

This is a huge call, but we’re willing to make it. The best Italian restaurant in Sydney is Casa Mia Osteria in Newtown. We’ve tried a lot of them, but this intimate joint at the end of King St has blown us away with it’s authentic Roman dishes and delicious Italian wines. Casa Mia translates to “at home”, and that’s exactly how you feel entering their doors. The team are the epitome of generous Italian hospitality and make thoughtful recommendations. Casa Mia Osteria is the personal project of two friends who have known each other from back in Italy, Andrea Nazzari (from Tetsuya’s, Rockpool Bar & Grill, and Baccomato Osteria) and Valerio Boncompagni (previously executive chef at Baccomato Osteria). Boncompagni cooks everything in-house including the sourdough, focaccia and salumi. After learning how to make salumi from his uncle during his childhood in Toscana, he developed a passion for cured meat that he marinates with nearly 15 different herbs and spices and of course with no addition of preservatives. Depending on the days, you may taste Pancetta, Wagyu bresaola, capocollo, Lamb prosciutto, finocchiona, mortadella, nduja (a spicy pork spread), guanciale (pig cheek), and more. You’ll get something new every time you dine and in true Roman style, nothing is wasted, so come with an open mind. One of their best items on the menu has to be the wood-fired pinsa Romana (Roman pizza), which are cooked in the traditional way and more oval in shape. The dough is made from three types of flour and rested… Read More

Best food festivals around Italy: where to go

Pizza

Italy is the home of pasta. The birthplace of pizza. The refuge of cannoli and the haven of tiramisu. And that’s just covering a few regions! As the world gets increasingly food focused, Italy’s reputation has just taken over, giving us not just the image of Italy as a foodie’s paradise, but direct-from-the-source-type places where we can get all the produce we’d ever need. Think Eataly! To honour the beautiful country that is Italy and to get excited for the full calendar year of food events and things to do around the country, we’re taking a look at the best and biggest food festivals around the country to add to your diary. And why. JANUARY, gennaio Sagra della Sfincia di Priescia, Montelepre, SICILY All about the traditional Sicilian sweet treat, sfincia di priescia, this annual festival takes place on 6th January in the Piazza Principe di Piemonte. FEBRUARY, febbraio Battle of Oranges, Ivrea, PIEDMONT Get your cameras ready because the Battle of Oranges must be seen to be believed. An epic three-day food fight which runs from Sunday until Shrove Tuesday every year, this festival is all about flying fruit in a re-enactment of a skirmish dating back to the 12th century. MARCH, marzo Feast of San Giuseppe, CAMPANIA, SICILY, LAZIO Across southern Italy on March 19th, Italians celebrate San Giuseppe with myriad versions of zeppole, the more-ish crispy fried dough balls which are a popular street food throughout the south. Ask for the melt-in-your-mouth Zeppole di San Giuseppe – and don’t even try stopping at just one…. Read More

Underrated Italian gem I Maccheroni has a new home in Woollahra Sydney

Maccheroni restaurant

If love were tangible, it would be found in the form of the perfectly pillowy spinach tortelli with burnt butter, crispy sage, and Parmigiano Reggiano at I Maccheroni. Formerly located in Rose Bay, the Italian diner is now situated just off Oxford Street on Woollahra’s Jersey Road. Owned and helmed by ex-Otto and Pendolino chef Marcello Farioli who hails from Modena, Italy, I Maccheroni serves up high-quality, unpretentious, seasonal, homemade Italian fare. The menu focuses on Italian staples and is continually changing, however, there are a few mainstays. The aforementioned divine spinach tortelli, as well as a mushroom arancini, and a tiramisu. Naturally, there’s also always a maccheroni option on offer, with this constantly rotating. With a commitment to seasonal dining, I Maccheroni always has blackboard specials in addition to the regular menu (if you’re lucky enough to visit on a day when the Cacio e Pepe is on offer, this is a must-order dish!). Open for dinner Monday to Saturday, with lunch on Saturdays, the two-level Woollahra joint is a homely yet elevated experience. The venue is a step up from the former long-tabled communal dining setting of the Rose Bay location; I Maccheroni in Woollahra spans two levels and features a bar, upstairs function or dining space, and more intimate small table seating options, all in a fine-dining worthy grey, blue and timber setting. Unlike its former location, I Maccheroni in Woollahra is now fully licensed, and features a substantial wine list with bottles hailing from both Italy and Australia, as well as… Read More