IN honour of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, Selfridges have launched a quarterly campaign of bard-inspired events and dramatic fashion collections throughout the store. As part of this, San Carlo Bottega, the chic Italian restaurant and champagne bar on the second floor, will be putting on a special celebratory menu between Monday 3rd – Sunday 9th October.
We suspect Romeo might have been better off turning to these to help mend his broken heart
There is a strong link between Shakespeare and Italy, with many of his most famous plays being set in the country; the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Julius Caesar and The Merchant of Venice, to name a few. So it didn’t take much persuasion to get San Carlo’s Executive development chef, Filippo Pagani, who hails from Venice, on board with the idea of showcasing some special native dishes.
San Carlo restaurants are well known for focussing on quality ingredients and regional Italian cooking, offering customers a chance to experience more authentic dishes from smaller localities. This week’s Bottega menu features specialities particular to Venice and Verona, along with prosecco and recommended regional wines such as Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and Amarone.
Special Venetian dishes include thin slices fresh Tuna Carpaccio with capers, a citrus dressing and strips of orange peel, as well as freshly made Egg Tagliolini bound with a deeply satisfying rich crab sauce, served dramatically in a spiky spider crab shell. We were particularly enamoured by Baccala Mantecato, a comforting dish of whipped salt cod paté and black olives on a comforting crostini made from chickpeas that we hope makes it to the permanent menu. This was a perfectly balanced and more unusual dish in terms of contrasting tastes, textures and temperatures; perfect for enjoying along with drinks.
Veronese specials included San Carlo’s take of the famous risotto; Risotto all’Amarone - tinged pink with the addition of the regional wine and surrounded by delicate folds of thinly sliced Italian ham. We also enjoyed slabs of peasant-pleasing polenta enlivened by thick slices of pan-fried Sopressa salami and balsamic radicchio.
Those who crave heartier fayre to match the onset of autumn will need to rush over to experience ultimate Italian comfort food like Gnocchi coated with butter, sage and Monte Veronese cheese, a cow’s milk cheese which San Carlo had flown over especially. The gnocchi is served here in an edible cheese and breadcrumb basket.
Bigoli pasta with wild spinach and slow cooked Piedmonte beef cheeks is another hearty and rich dish, as warming as a fine Italian wool coat. Perhaps the bard got it the wrong way round and it’s actually food that is the music of love?
San Carlo obviously never forgets how much Italians love desserts and all traditional sweet baked goods are made in-house. Along with a cup of fine Italian coffee, we tucked into Fritelle; apple pastry fritters, while dipping Baicoli (sweet Venetian biscuits) into a glass of chilled Zabaglione – sweet custard infused with Marsala. We suspect Romeo might have been better off turning to these to help mend his broken heart.
To finish, we happily picked at a freshly baked miniature Pandoro cake; a typical Veronese sweet yeast bread, popular around Christmas and New Year, lightly studded with sultanas and dusted with vanilla scented icing sugar. The ones made by San Carlo’s team of pastry chefs were light and had such a delicious golden outer crust, we’re glad they didn’t make us wait until December.
In addition to this special menu, lunchtime customers dining on Thursday 6th October from 12.30pm will be accompanied by a harp and flute duo from the Royal Northern College of Music.
Obviously any one of San Carlo’s venues can be enjoyed at any time, but those with a poetic soul who fancy the chance to experience a similar diet to their favourite Shakespearean character, have until Sunday 9th October to head towards San Carlo Bottega in Selfridges to fully immerse themselves at the point where food meets culture.
San Carlo Bottega, Selfridges, Exchange Square, Second floor, Manchester, M3 1BD
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