Spaghetti all’ amatriciana 2 slices of guanciale (½ cm thick) 200g plums tomatoes ( in a tin) ½ glass of white wine Chilli flakes 200g Spaghetti Black pepper 100g of Pecorino Romano Slice the quite thick guanciale (pancetta) into long strips. In a pan cook the guanciale strips and let them release the fat it…
Italian Food, Lifestyle and Culture Blog
By the Flavours Holidays team
Best Cookbooks for 2021
The best cookbooks for 2021 as recommended by you (our Flavours followers) We asked for your recommendations for the best cookbooks as there’s such a huge variety of cookbooks available. It can be incredibly difficult knowing where to start when buying one as a present or as a treat for yourself. Whether you’re searching for…
Healthy Artichoke recipes
Here are our recipes from Facebook Live – Monday 11th January 2021 Patè di Carciofi (artichoke pate) for 300g patè 4 artichokes 2 garlic cloves 30g mascarpone or 30g butter Salt Pepper 200ml water To make the patè we will use all the parts of the artichokes which are a bit more tough ,such as…
The Perfect Christmas Gifts for a Foodie
With the festive season almost upon us it’s about time to start thinking about your Christmas gift shopping if you haven’t done so already. To give you some inspiration, we put together a Christmas gift list for the foodie in your life. From aprons, to pizza makers to cooking classes – we promise you will…
Italian Christmas Cocktail Recipe
Incredibly refreshing, this wine-based cocktail is perfect for both summer and winter. It’s also the ideal Christmas cocktail with its effervescent sparkle. Learn how to make an Aperol Spritz with this recipe!
Travel Bucket List For 2021
First published 18th Sept 2021, this post has been update 4th December 2021. We’ve been dreaming (and we’re sure you have too) of exploring a little bit further afield and ticking off our travel bucket list. Our wanderlust has us incredibly excited to get back out into the world and return to travel in 2021!…
Butternut squash gnocchi recipe
Looking for a butternut squash gnocchi recipe as a delicious alternative to the classic potato gnocchi? In this recipe we’ve combined it with a creamy cheese sauce- a complete carb overload, but the perfect comfort food.
Top 5 Italian Christmas Traditions
This blog was originally posted on 4th December 2017 and was updated October 2020. A chill in the air and sparkling lights lining the streets – we love Christmas! It’s a time for peace, joy and love, and it brings some brightness to the colder months in the northern hemisphere. Every European country celebrates Christmas…
The best risotto recipe for winter
As the evenings draw in there’s nothing like a bowl of creamy risotto- we’re delighted to share our best risotto recipe for winter from Flavours chef- Livia de Giovanni. The bitterness of the radicchio and red wine is perfectly balanced with the creamy risotto rice. – Buon appetito! Learn more about our Italian chef Livia…
Our Christmas Aperitivo Guide
This blog was originally posted on 5th December 2014 and was updated on 22nd October 2020. With the Christmas season coming into full swing and many people starting to plan parties and get together for their friends and family, it’s the perfect time to learn more about the Italian aperitivo – an authentic Italian ritual…
Torta di Mela – Italian Apple Tart Recipe
Apples thrive in Northern Italy’s cooler temperatures where Italian farmers have been cultivating this fruit for over 2,000 years. While almost every apple-growing country has its own variation of the classic apple tart; this is a traditional recipe from Tuscany called Torta di Mele!
8 Ways the Italian Lifestyle Teaches You to Appreciate Life More
This blog was originally posted on 8th March 2017 and was updated on 22nd October 2020. Any trip to Italy reminds us of how the Italians value and celebrate all aspects of life. From taking time to eat and drink well, to spending time with family, to appreciating beautiful architecture and design, as well as…
Italian Christmas Cantuccini Biscuits
Cantuccini are traditional Christmas biscuits originating from Tuscany. Technically, these can be called Cantucci or Cantuccini biscuits as ‘biscotti’ refers to all biscuits in Italian. Why not try out this classic Tuscan recipe from our cooking holidays, best enjoyed dipped in a glass of Vin Santo!
How to Travel Alone: Top Tips from Solo Travellers
Travelling solo is both an exciting and a daunting prospect. By stepping out and travelling alone, you are embarking on a journey with no one to rely on but yourself. Before your first solo trip, you may be a bit nervous but I can assure you that the rewards of solo travel far outweigh this!…
Courgette Pancakes (Crepes di Zucchine)
Follow along with chef Maurizio and learn how to make these cheesy courgette pancakes – the perfect healthy Italian lunch!
Our 7 Favourite Wellness And Motivational Podcasts 2020
We’ve been focusing on wellness and self-care, as it’s more important than ever to take care of ourselves as winter approaches. Part of this has been making sure that we take mindful moments each day, and hosting wellbeing classes with Amanda Hamilton to better understand how nutrition affects our life. We’ve been loving listening to…
Solo Travel Q&A with Catherine Leech (101 Holidays)
We love everything about travel – exploring new places, experiencing new cultures, and making new friends! Someone who feels the same is Catherine Leech – Director of 101 Holidays. Addicted to travel since the age of 6, when she flew alone to visit her grandparents in Portugal, Catherine has spent her life travelling the world…
Did You Know: 6 Surprising Benefits of Vitamin D
As the leaves begin changing and the days begin to get shorter, it’s the most important time of year to be focusing on your health. We’ve been hosting masterclasses with expert nutritionist and lifestyle guru Amanda Hamilton, and she’s given us a great insight into just how much impacts your health and immune system. We…
Cannoli di Ricotta Recipe – Sicilian Food Recipes
With their crispy pastry shells and indulgent ricotta filling, Cannoli di Ricotta are little bits of Sicilian heaven served up as dessert! Indulge in these decadent cannoli with this recipe from our Sicilian chef, Carmela!
How to Sleep Better – Wellbeing with Amanda Hamilton
This week, we learnt all about how to sleep better in our second wellbeing masterclass with Amanda Hamilton. Amanda’s expert advice included top tips for falling asleep easier and staying asleep longer! It’s particularly important to set yourself up for good sleep, especially as winter approaches, to keep yourself and your body healthy! Read on…
Pasta Alla Norma Recipe – Sicilian Food Recipes
Indulge with a pasta alla Norma, with a decadent roast tomato sauce, delicious homemade pasta and hearty aubergine slices. All topped with a crumbly ricotta salata and basil!
Top 4 Secrets for a Happy and Healthy Italian Lifestyle
You may be surprised to learn that Italians stay healthier than most other Europeans, as we tend to think about pasta and pizza as unhealthy foods. As it turns out, however, Italian women manage to avoid ageing illnesses for up to 14 years longer than Brits and Italian men outlive their British counterparts by 10…
Kick Start Healthy Habits – Wellbeing with Amanda Hamilton
We were thrilled to host a wellbeing masterclass with Amanda Hamilton last week to get her expert advice on how to kick start healthy habits. With winter drawing in, along with the new normal we’re all adapting to, it might seem intimidating to try and break out of unhealthy habits. Amanda is an expert nutritionist…
Best Italian Meatballs Recipe
Learn how to make delicious Italian meatballs, known as polpette, with a rich, tomato sauce. This will soon become one of your regular dishes!
Ageing Well for Over 50s with Tracey McAlpine (Fighting Fifty)
We recently caught up with Tracey McAlpine from Fighting Fifty to chat about how to age positively and living well after 50. Tracey started her blog shortly after turning 50, as a way to help her fellow midlife women live life to the fullest. Her aim was to provide a positive space for older women…
Caponata Recipe – Sicilian Food Recipes
A simple Sicilian vegetable dish bursting with flavour, caponata is a great recipe to master. Check out our recipe to find out more!
Everything You Need to Know about Italian Cooking Online
When our holiday guests were unable to join our chefs in Italy this year, we knew that we needed to find a way to keep connected with everyone – especially with both our team in Italy and our wonderful guests in the UK all stuck inside! Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, and the…
Top 7 Psychological Benefits of Painting
Hobbies are an important part of maintaining your mental health and wellbeing. They’re something that instantly spark joy and give you something to be passionate about, as well as giving you something to focus on instead of your daily worries and stresses. We’ve noticed that many people come home from our painting holidays feeling recharged…
What is Mindfulness – The Definitive Guide
Mindfulness has been a buzzword in the wellbeing industry for the last few years. You may have heard it mentioned at your Pilates or yoga class, perhaps at work, or even at your local coffee shop! It’s taken the world by storm in the form of colouring books, mobile apps, and in-person classes, as people…
Author Interview with Donna Armer – Solo in Salento
Solo travellers make up 70% of Flavours guests, each year, which is why we are passionate about supporting and encouraging those who wish to travel alone. That’s why we do the research for you! By speaking to solo travel experts and putting together helpful posts full of tips for travelling alone and the best destinations…