Sunday Dinner – Stefano Style

One thing the English do really well is Sunday dinner. 

Here I am not just talking about the meal itself, (although I have had some roast potatoes I would sell my grandmother for), but also the entire ritual – the gathering, the sharing of time, catching up with loved ones over a home prepared hearty meal.

So in deference to this English tradition, here is my take on an English Sunday dinner.

TOAST MAGAZINE'S REVIEW OF BY ALI MILLINGTON - 'SIMPLE, AUTHENTIC ITALIAN AT PIZZERIA OREGANO'

Pizzeria Oregano

18-19 St Albans Place, London, N1 0NX

Tel: 020 7288 1123

Transport: Angel (Underground)

Hidden down a quiet road off Islington’s Upper Street lies an authentic Italian restaurant with simple décor but strong accents, indicating that local Italians give it the seal of approval.

Gelato - More Than Just Ice Cream

 

Even when the sun isn’t shining, and people aren’t rushing out of work to catch the evening rays who doesn’t want to finish an Italian dinner with a palate cleansing, refreshing gelato?

Now, gelato isn’t just an Italian word for ice cream, it is something else entirely – if you’ve tried it you will know what I mean.

Fancy some heat this Summer?

Make like the sun and enjoy some heat with our new Spicy Pizzas for the summer!

Why not try out Calabria tomato and mozzarella with spicy salami? 

Let's Combine Pizzas and Football for a Winning Combination

At Oregano' we love the football... Albeit a little less since Italy was kicked out.

However it only happens once every 4 years, so we may as well embrace it - after all, why pass an opportunity to see friends, eat good food, and relax mid week with a drink?

When you're with the boys (or girls) and the football is on, spicy food and cider is such a winning combination! Don't let spicy food constrain you to curries however!

A few years ago friends of mine joined my wife and me on holiday to visit relatives in Abruzzo, where we ate the regional specialties, which to their surprise included a number of spicy dishes! Often people think of Mediterranean warmth, sweet sun ripens tomatoes and refreshing peppers when considering flavors of Italy. But go a little deeper, a little more local, eat as the locals do and you will find more than a flash of Italian flame in the sauces of the Abruzzese region!

English people are often surprised at the level of spice which can be found across the regions of Italy which is odd considering spice has been part of regional cuisine since Columbus brought back peperoncio from the new world in the 16th century!  As with all Italian cuisine spice is something we handle very well and is balanced with our fresh herbs and rich sauces in a way that allows spice to become a more complex accent of a dish, rather than creating what can sometimes me an unpleasant physical sensation.

So as the world cup hots up (pardon the pun) join in with our July special spicy pizzas!

A Snapshot of Pizzeria Oregano!

Check out our talented chefs at work at Pizzeria Oregano! 

June Musings...

June eh? It has come and gone, and already we are rolling into July. Rolling along with thunder, rain and another lost summer.  It is a curious English trait I have developed much to my disappointment. End of may comes and the young people come out, the children play and people leave work happy. Well, that's the dream. Then the dream is dashed and we are left wet, miserable and feeling worse than after drinking my cousins home made spumante - less than ideal.

So, let us leave the hope of heatwaves and embrace what we do have. Good food and good drink and I like to think good company. Close out the rain and have a glass of pure sunshine sidro monato , forget the chilly air and warm up with Mediterranean spices. And if you still need something to bring a little, calore italiano in your life wash it away with some limencello- (the very thing for stripping away British summer blues).