The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2019 - Issue 26

bite cuisine Ditch the traditional British Christmas and do it the Italian way with Carluccio’s Christmas range. Jada Brookes finds out what they have to offer. O ur favourite Italian restaurant chain, Carluccio’s will have plenty to celebrate this Christmas as it will be 20 years since the business was founded by Antonio Carluccio. The only sad factor will be that the restaurateur who passed away two years ago will not be able to join his legacy in the big celebration but we believe his spirit will be with them nonethe- less. Once again this Italian belle has provided us with an alternative way to celebrate the festive season with their wonderful collection of artisan produce. Along with the usual classic Christmas products, there are excit- ing newcomers such as a punchy Spritz panettone, spiked with the alcohol in true Aperitivo fashion, a beautiful hand-painted ceramic limoncello flask, and a selection of sensational treats. This year, the restaurant brand is celebrating with eye-catching new packaging featuring beautiful blooms in bright colours. It will certainly be an Italian Christmas to remember with lingering memories. Taking inspiration from the great works of art hanging in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, a prominent art museum located adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria and this year’s fashion-forward floral prints, the Christmas range brings a welcome burst of colour to the grey winter months. Grouped into Panettone, Regional Cakes and Biscuits, Con- fectionery, and Stocking Fillers, there are so many to choose from that will make your Christmas such a magical one. Made from exclusive recipes between September and December, which is why it is only available during the festivities, Carluccio’s range of panettone consists of traditional, prosecco cream-filled and limoncello-spiked varieties as well as a gluten-free option, and the brand new Spritz. Italians like to enjoy an aperitif on occasions, so why not enjoy it with the Panettone Allo Spritz? Piped with a sweet and tangy spritz filling with classic orange notes and covered in dark chocolate, this is the ultimate Christmas indulgence. Made in Veneto by a bakery run by three cousins, Panettone Al Prosecco is deliciously filled with custard cream and flavoured with Prosecco di Valdobbiadene to form a deliciously indulgent treat. Ex- perience the zesty flavour of Sorrento with Panettone Al Limoncello filled with limoncello cream, pieces of candied lemon peel and iced with white chocolate, or Gluten-Free Panettone made with natural yeast and unglazed so there is no sacrifice on taste. While your Christmas meal is being prepared and the rest of the family is gathered together waiting for the big feast, keep them occu- pied with Limone A Gogo, a zesty gift box of lemon fettucce, lemon oil, lemon-infused olives, lemon baci biscuits, and lemon terrine. Or get a feisty kick out of Fortissimo, a hamper with chilli filei pasta, chilli oil, a chilli pesto, crushed chilli, with the addition of chilli seeds to grow your own right in time for when the stock runs out. Make your countdown to Christmas different with Carluccio’s Choc- olate Advent Calendar. Full of mouth-watering chocolate, unwrap the foil to find classic festive characters inside. Start the morning with a milk chocolate bite with a Gianduja filling or indulge with the limited edition Luxe Calendar. There are only 200 available this year so grab yours quick. Il Massimo allows you to have all of your favourite Italian delicacies in one box such as Prosecco Valentina chocolate gold coin and mouth-watering biscuits. Are you looking for something new to make cheese taste better? If so, you may find the answer in Carduccio’s Per I Formaggi with con- diments of chestnut honey, pear compote and green tomato jam for the perfect end to dinner. Or expand your world of pasta with Pasta E Sapori. This perennially popular hamper comes with lasagne riccie, Carluc 20 Years of Christmas