ADDING THAT ITALIAN ACCENT
WITH ITALIAN FOODS and flavours SO POPULAR DANNY BLYTH HOLDS THAT SIMPLE TOUCHES OF 'LA DOLCE VITA' CAN GO A LONG WAY...
There's much talk about adding what's called the Wow! factor to restaurant menus, using everything from 'Superfoods' through to unusual table ware and from dishes to share through to healthier options.
But among all the trends and fads that come and go there's one thing that British customers have remained keen to get more and more of, particularly when eating out of home. And this is foods and dishes with an Italian accent.
You needn't look far for proof of this particular pudding either. For instance in June a survey for Thomson Local found Britain to be going pizza mad and it seems that pizza is challenging Fish & Chips to become the nation's favourite dish. Figures from March to April showed a massive 445% increase in searches for pizza restaurants on ThomsonLocal.com while similar searches for Indian, Chinese and English restaurants remained relatively unchanged.
Also in June a survey of the eating and cooking habits of 5,000 people across several EU countries for Apetina cheese concluded that we Brits were "Red, White and Green with envy" because of our love of Italian cuisine. A key finding was that 61% of Brits would most like to master Italian cuisine for themselves, where as just five percent were interested in learning how to master our own traditional dishes such as roasts and spotted dick.
There was another key point, especially relevant while bearing in mind how much in love we Brits are with celeb chefs (and their penchant for dishes with a Mediterranean or Italian accent), as Kate Richards, Brand Manager, Apetina outlines: "While we spend more time than other Europeans watching cookery shows, we are least likely to be trying out the recipes we see."
The opportunity is therefore that bit clearer. People are watching the likes of Jamie Oliver and Giorgio Locatelli prepare Italian style fare but won't do it for themselves. Restaurants filling the gap ought to reap rewards.
However, if the thought of rivalling Oliver, Locatelli et al appears a bit too daunting - then think again. For adding an Italian accent to foods is quick, easy and if it's to be authentic - invariably simple too. It needn't be any more than accompanying an everyday service of plated Fish & Chips in your restaurant area with an 'Italian salad' that can be simply sliced tomato and rocket. Adding to this (and other dishes) drizzles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar is another way of quickly adding that accent - and perceived value of the dish.
Still unconvinced? I often Wow! people at home by whipping out the archetypal dinner of Tuscany in true style, both quickly and easily. Starter of Crostini Toscano sees two slices of toasted bread quickly rubbed with a garlic clove, then its open with the jar of liver paste and toasted under grill. Total time 2-3 minutes. It gets easier though...Main is Pappardelle con sugo Cinghiale, pasta with wild boar sauce. The pasta takes all of about three minutes to boil then it's stirring in the boar sauce from a jar. Dessert is Tiramisu, bought in or made the day before and slicing that takes seconds. That's it! I've seen this done in Tuscan restaurant kitchens and I've seen both locals and British tourists Wowed! by the dinner. It's one of food's greatest ironies that the Slow Food movement first took root in Italy, a land where quality 'fast' food is so common.
Meanwhile it's becoming easier all the time to source ingredients that will add that Italian accent to services. One of the best suppliers is iB Foods (0800 252522, www.ibfood.com) who offer everything from flavoured olive oils through to easy-to-prepare ice creams - and all those easy peasy sauces in jars mentioned above. You can also tap in to their expert advice on keeping things quick and easy.
One of iB Food's growing lines is authentic Italian breads for bruschetta and panini. The later especially is making a bit of a mark in Fish & Chip shops. Stuff a panini with some cooked chicken and a little Med-style salad and you have a quick and profitable take away item in truly Italian style. There's no need for the skill of a Michelin-starred chef.
Another Italian favourite booming in sales right now is Parma ham. This can be used in all sorts of panini for taking away (try wrapping it around that cooked chicken) and an endless amount of main meal applications in the restaurant. Britain is the biggest market for Parma ham outside Italy itself and sales here leapt by 27 percent over the last year. This is the sort of flavour people are looking for.
There's also a growing amount of equipment out there to help you add the Italian accent. One extra factor here is that Italian design often makes a bit of a 'style statement' in itself so its appearance front of house is usually means an added incentive to sales. Think back to the first time you saw a genuine barista coffee machine - that effect can be recreated time and time again.
And one way to really catch the eye is having something big and bold like the new Beech Rotisserie from (Exclusive Ranges, 01707 361770, www.exclusiveranges.co.uk ). Rotisserie cooking is in fact hugely popular in Italy, though to date only the Prezzo chain seems to have picked up on it here in the UK. Beech rotisseries can be large enough to cook whole lambs, pigs or other sizeable cuts of meat, or can be small, suitable for cooking poultry, for example. Whatever the size, the rotisserie is motorised, ensuring even cooking. Additional features such as spot lights and windows can be added to create real theatre.
As for desserts well that's got to be ice cream - or Gelato. Leading Italian ice cream equipment manufacturer Carpigiani (01432 346018, www.carpigiani.co.uk) has a new Carpigiani Pronto 4 Counter-Top Ice Cream Maker to really give you the edge when it comes to ices. And for those who want to learn more there's even a Carpigiani Gelato University here in the UK.
Suitable for all levels of expertise - from complete beginners to professional chefs, it offers free day-long courses regularly in Hereford, Reading or Glasgow.
