SAN Carlo Group’s celebrity chef Aldo Zilli has launched a new regional feature menu ‘Giro d’Italia’ (journey through Italy) at Cicchetti. Each month features a different region of Italy, exploring its unique culinary specialities through strictly authentic dishes and seasonal ingredients flown in from that area.
The combination of powerful sun and rich volcanic soil means a wonderful variety of crops can be grown, all with a pure, intense flavour
Last month's hit menu focused on Abruzzo. July's menu promises to be just as popular as Aldo Zilli and Cicchetti head south to Sicily, the largest Italian island and birthplace of San Carlo group chairman Carlo Distefano.
Feasting is an important part of Sicilian life, and celebrations with great food and wine are used to mark all life’s milestones. The home of citrus fruits and olives, the produce in Sicily is abundant. The combination of powerful sun and rich volcanic soil means a wonderful variety of crops can be grown, all with a pure, intense flavour.
Sicily is also an important wine region. Sicilian vines account for 17.5 per cent of the national total of Italian wine, and together with Puglia, Sicily is now the largest producer of Italian wine in Italy.
Commenting on the launch of the July menu, Aldo Zilli said, “This month sees us journey through Sicily, known for great seafood and strong flavours, Sicilians are passionate about their food and none more so than our very own chairman Mr Carlo Distefano. I hope you’ll join us this month to sample the real taste of Italy and some of the dishes which led Carlo to develop his lifelong passion for great food.”
Available seven days a week during July only, the Sicilian menu is a must for foodies.
For dinner reservations call San Carlo Cicchetti on 0161 839 2233. sancarlocicchetti.co.uk
Giro d’Italia Sicily Menu by Aldo Zilli for Cicchetti
Pituni alla messinese
Fried stuffed pizza with sausage and strong Sicilian cheese
Carpaccio di polipo al pistacchio
Octopus carpaccio with pistachio and Sicilian spicy orange dressing
Calamari ripieni all norma
Stuffed calamari with salted ricotta, pine nuts, capers and anchovies in
Sicilian roasted tomato sauce
Bucatini al finocchio selvatino e sarde
Wild fennel and sardines with bucatini pasta
Braciole di maiale nero dell’Etna
Paillard of black pig from Etna cooked on lava stone with aubergine and mint
Pesce spada al salmoriglio con caponata all’agrodolce
BBQ swordfish Trapani-style with sweet and sour caponata
Pesche dell’isola, al marsala
Sicilian peaches with almonds, marsala wine and homemade ice cream
White wine recommendation: COLOMBA Platino
Elegant and fresh, this is one of the great, classic Sicilian white wines. Produced from Insolia grapes this white wine has unique qualities of aromatic delicacy and intensity and is a pleasantly fruity wine with character. Excellent served with shellfish and seafood.
Red wine recommendation: Nero d'Avola
Named after Avola in the far south of the island, Nero d'Avola is the most important red wine grape in Sicily. A full bodied, ripe and juicy red packed with black cherry fruit and hints of pepper, Nero d'Avola also contributes to Marsala blends.
