Ciao everybody

It's been such a long time since my last post!

Just thought I'd write a couple of words about the 1 year anniversary of my 'Cena Sarda Dining
Club' evening in April.

In March, I will be adding to the dining club experience by introducing a new concept which will be 'Cena Sarda A Tavola'

This will be a variety of traditional Sardinian meals based on my families recipes.. for eg: Risotto, Pasta dishes to fish and game dishes followed by delicious home made desserts.

If you follow me on Twitter you will have seen my uploads of photo's of some theses dishes with the #atavola

In April to celebrate the anniversary of my dinng club, I will be hosting the original Cena Sarda meal of Roast Suckling pig at a cost of £35.00 per head with a £10 deposit.

For more information or to reserve your place, please email me at: olianas@hotmail.co.uk

I look forward to hearing from you

Ciao
Mario

PS:  February will see the return of my 'Gusto Italiano' nights follow me on Twitter and Facebook for more details..

Cena Sarda

Ciao everybody

Well, my first 'Cena Sarda' Dining club was a great success, with all places sold out, so I have decided to hold regular 'Cena Sarda' evenings..

My next one will be held on the 12 May and will be a 'Cena Pescatore', which will be fish based recipes.

I must confess, although it didn't sell as fast as the 'Cena Sarda' evening all seats are now fully booked, so I am confident of another great night..

From September, every 2nd Saturday of the month will be regular 'Cena Sarda' evening and the main dish will be suckling pig which went down so well on my first evening, although on occassion, I may offer a suckling lamb option.

The dessert will vary from evening to evening, but will always be a traditional Sardinian favourite.

The price will be set at £35.00 per head and bring your own wine.

Places will only be confirmed on a £10.00 deposit.per person.

If you are unable to attend any of the dining clubs, I will bring the 'Cena Sarda' to you. 

I will come to your home and cook  the Cena Sarda experience for you and your family or friends (a minimum of 4 diners), please contact me for details: olianas@hotmail.co.uk

If you are vegetarian and the suckling pork doesn't appeal to you, please let me know and I will provide a suitable option.

On other news, I am currently working on my website, where you will be able to find more information about the 'Cena Sarda' and ' Italian Cook for Hire' evenings, along with information about the Farmers markets I attend and a bit of personal information.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Ciao

Mario

Cena Sarda Dinner Date

Ciao everybody

Just a quick blog this time, but I will update more when I have more time..

Thought I would share, I am starting a new venture that you can find out more details about through my Twitter..

I am starting to host a 'Dining Club' experience in Leeds

On the 21st April, I will be starting to cater and host a 4 course meal for a small group of 14 people giving the diners a taste of Sardinia and Italy, but trying to use locally sourced products.. At the moment, that is looking achievable...

My dining club will not be a 'Fine Dining' experience, but I am trying to achieve the full atmosphere of a
traditional family run 'Trattoria'

It will be £35.00 per person, but bring your own alcohol.. although a tradtional Sardinian liquer,what we call a 'Digestivo'  will be offered at the end of the meal..

A menu can found on my Twitter page

If you are interested in joining 'my family' please contact me for now through my twitter page or email me at olianas@hotmail.co.uk

But I hope to have a webpage where you can book online up and running soon.. please watch this space..

So, if you are the Leeds area I look forward to seeing you there..

Ciao

Mario

Masterchef Live and Dining with @SaraDanesin

Ciao Amici

Gosh, once again I am long time between blogs!!

So, what has happened since the last time I blogged??

Well to start with I did the 'Masterchef live' experience at the Good Food Show live at Birmingham NEC,

and what an experience that was!! I cooked for John and Greg my Silver Mullet recipe with a refined recipe from the last time I cooked it. Still I didn't win though.. but never mine... one day!! lol

I also met Andi Peters and Sara from Masterchef..

As well as been busy with all my Gusto Italiano market stalls, private dinner parties and getting ready for christmas, myself, my fiancee and my in-laws went had a 'Dining Club' experience.. These are quite popular and trendy down in London and Sarah from Masterchef has started the trend in York.. This was a fantastic
idea and a great night, with great food and good company and is something I may think about starting myself in the future.. My papa does a similar at home in Sardinia and he told if I ever get chance to do something myself over here..

Sara's menu started off with a canape of dried bread with Quail egg and truffle, then a starter of Aubergine Parmigiana with a vine tomato and Taggiasche olive concasse.. The main course was Partridge Risotto with Black Truffle. Finally a dessert of Alphonso Mango with passion fruit glace, Cocnut chocolate Pannacotta and black olive caramel..

When I read the menu, I was interested to see sample the Parmigiana and Risotto as they are both dishes I cook regularly myself.. At the end of the night after tasting the dishes, I was left speechless.. but fully satisified.. It was all delicious!

This is an experience I would fully recommend and if it is something you are interested in trying then go to 

www.saradanesinmedio.com

But expect I long waiting list!! but it is worth the wait!! :)

Well, that is all for now. I wish you all a Buon Natale and a Happy New Year!!

Ciao

Mario

Nonno Mario’s Sardinian Mullet

Ciao Everybody!

Wow, I can’t believe I last blogged before I went on vacation in August! The time has flown by…

I have been so busy with my cooking and my markets that I just haven’t had the time.

So, did you see me on TV the other week? On ‘ There’s No Taste like Home’ with Gino? If not, then, why not??

If you did, then I thought you might enjoy the recipe of the dish I cooked. A nice, simple, dish that for me really is the taste of home..

Nonno Mario’s Sardinian Mullet

Ingredients

For the main dish:

• 1kg mullet
• 50ml extra virgin olive oil
• 1 x lemon, zested
• 1 x chopped garlic clove
• 1 x bunch of parsley
• 1 x glass of white wine
• Salt and pepper

For the sauce:

• 1kg mussels
• 1 x finely chopped shallot
• 1 x chopped garlic clove
• 1 x glass of white wine
• 50cl extra virgin olive oil
• 1 x sprig of parsley

For the potato and courgette bake:

• 100g butter (room temperature)
• 500g finely peeled and chopped potatoes
• 250g finely sliced courgette
• 250g Pecorino Sardo Stagionato
• Salt and pepper
• 450cl vegetable stock

Method:

For the main dish:

1: Gut and remove the scales from the mullet.

2: Put olive oil, lemon zest, chopped parsley, chopped garlic, salt, pepper and half a glass of wine over the fish.

3: Wrap it in tin foil.

4: Place in a preheated oven on 200C and cook for 25 minutes.

5: Once cooked, open the foil and skin the fish.

For the sauce:

6: Put olive oil, shallots, garlic and parsley in a shallow pan.

7: Gently soften on a low heat.

8: Add the mussels with a pinch of salt and half a glass of white wine.

9: Cook until the mussels open.

For the potato and courgette bake:

10: Brush the inside of an ovenproof dish with a little butter.

11: Begin to layer the potato, courgette and pecorino alternately in the dish seasoning each layer with salt and pepper and adding vegetable stock. Continue until the dish is full, finishing with a layer of potato.

12: Place in a pre-heated oven on 175C for one hour.

13: Once cooked leave to set.

To serve:

14: Plate up the whole fish, garnishing the plate with twisted slice of lemon and parsley sprigs. Serve the fish at the table with the courgette bake.

Easy as Uno, Due, Tre..

I hope you enjoy making and eating it..

Ciao for now

Mario

Gusto Italiano Junior's Salmon Dish

Ciao Everybody

My eldest son, Raffaele recently decided he wanted to cook the evening meal, so with a little supervision from Gusto Italiano Senior he cooked up a delicious Salmon Dish which is really easy and fun to make. So I thought I would share the recipe here for you guys to make with your own kids.. Well, not literally.. use Salmon, it's a much tastier ingredient.. lol

Ingredients:

4 pieces of Salmon from your local fishmonger (I bought my from Leeds Market)
1 jar of Pitted Black Olives
1 Tin of Sweetcorn
1 Tin of Tomato Pasata
1 small bunch of fresh Parsley (chopped)
100g of Breadcrumbs
Pinch of Salt & Pepper
Olive Oil

(Pitting the Olives)

Method

Cut the Olives in half

Chop the Parsley

Put a little Pasata and Olive Oil in a baking tray

Lay the 4 pieces of Salmon on it

Pour the rest of the Pasata over the Salmon

Drain the Sweetcorn

Add the tin of Sweetcorn and half the Olives over the salmon

Mix the Breadcrumbs, Parsley and some Olive oil together and pour on top of the

fish

Place in the middle of a pre-heated oven and bake for 20 -25 minutes on Gas Mark 6-7 (200degrees)

Serve with a Mixed Leaf Salad

Gusto Italiano Junior chose to eat his with White Rice..

But the choice is yours!

Enjoy and let me know how you get on!

Ok guys, that will be the last blog from me for a while as I am going for a fortnight of Sun, fun and relaxation in Sardinia....

When I return I hope to blog about the programme I filmed with Gino D'acampo called 'No Taste Like Home'

Ciao for now

Mario

All Work & Play

Ciao All

My apologies, it's been awhile since I last blogged.. Only half way through July and already this month has been quite hectic, with parties, BBQ's, markets and charity events..

The month kicked off with my birthday party BBQ which wasn't so much a party for me, as I spent all day and evening cooking 'Yorkshire Buffalo Burgers', some Yorkshire Topside of Beef, which I slow cooked before hand for 24 hours, then just finished off on the BBQ, sausages, with some nice salad side dishes..

All finished off with a yummy birthday cake baked by my good friend Lisa (aka The Yummy Yank')

Next up was a Fancy Dress party for charity hosted by our friend, where for once I could just kick back and enjoy myself as catering was one of the best English dishes 'Fish & Chips'.. where I sampled for the first time Battered Sausage. First and last time for me, thank you.. lol

The theme was The Mad Hatters Tea Party.. the costumes were fantastic. I went as a mad Tea Party guest and my partner went as 'The Queen of Hearts'.. he we are with our friend 'The White Bunny Girl'.. lol

The morning after I dragged myself out of bed at daft o'clock to finish preparing for the Donkey Sanctuary Summer Fayre, which was a brilliant day for all involved with plenty of money raised.. and fortunately for me, I was kept going with plenty of caffeine kicks from my friend Tracey of 'Cafe 2 You' (Thank you Tracey.. )

My next blog will be a recipe and photo's of my son 'Gusto Italiano Jnr' when he cooked his first dish..

Until then, take care

Ciao

Mario