‘Italian food is not just carbonara’: Gennaro Contaldo on Italy’s hidden dishes

Italian food might be famous for carbonara, Bolognese and cacio e pepe – but, says chef Gennaro Contaldo, that’s barely scratching the surface. From forgotten regional dishes to centuries-old family recipes, Italy’s real cuisine is far richer and more surprising than most of us realise, writes Lauren Taylor


play_arrow All United Kingdom News
50 h.
Entertainment
ID: 5970720329289406404


Similar News expand_more


3 w. Family favourite Italian restaurant chain is letting kids eat free every day of the year for just £1.99 a month
Entertainment
68 h. We tried St John's Wood's new Italian restaurant and the portions were generous
Entertainment
3 d. The return of the 'amazing' Stalybridge Street Fest with cuisines from around the world
Entertainment
3 w. I had the £20 pasta at Ed Sheeran's London restaurant — two points sum it up
Entertainment
2 w. Some of Wales' best restaurants are teaming up to make one special dish
Entertainment
4 w. Nordic flavours: Discover culture and cuisine on an enriching Norwegian cruise
Entertainment
8 d. The Great British culinary tour: From haute cuisine to street eats, the best foodie destinations by rail
Entertainment
3 w. I paid £20 for pasta at music legend's restaurant — it tasted like Heinz
Entertainment
9 d. I had the first dish from the kitchen at Glasgow's best new restaurant
Entertainment
4 d. Italy wins claim over name of Spanish restaurant chain The Mafia Sits at the Table
Sport
1 M. Tesco shoppers convinced they've unearthed 'elite' meal deal combination
Economics
1 w. The Scottish boat restaurant crowned country's top 'unforgettable culinary experience'
Entertainment
1 w. Inside the London cookery school where refugees are the head chefs — and your dinner comes with a story you’ll never forget
Entertainment
3 w. Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa: ‘People say The Sopranos is their comfort food – even though it’s about killers and drug addicts’
Entertainment
1 M. Tiny food items randomly posted to pubs and cafes in Welsh city mystery
Entertainment
1 w. This is what happens when an opera singer launches an Italian restaurant
Entertainment
3 w. Pizza Hut feasts and improvised altars: lunar new year in Australia’s small town Chinese restaurants
Culture
3 w. The five most commonly mispronounced foods... and how to actually say them
Science
6 d. Two 'fantastic' fish and chip restaurants named among Top 10 in UK are a 'must
Entertainment
2 w. Prawn toast is back! But which supermarket's take on the 70s favourite is tastier than a £25 version in a top Mayfair restaurant
Entertainment
8 d. Immersive adventures: Delve into history, culture and cuisine on a small group tour
Entertainment
3 w. Fenix: New luxury Greek restaurant to open in Mayfair from group behind Tattu
Entertainment
1 M. Everything to know about Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg's 'wild' Epstein dinner
Entertainment
4 w. Which UK Restaurants Lost Stars in the 2026 Michelin Guide? Full List of 10 Eateries
Entertainment
1 M. DakaDaka Restaurant Mayfair, London Review: Classic Georgian fare in a boisterous dining room
Entertainment
1 w. Italy's gorgeous seaside city that's one of the most walkable in Europe
Travel
4 d. This 1 trick makes halloumi taste as good at home as it does at a restaurant
Entertainment
19 h. Is cottage cheese actually healthy? The truth behind TikTok’s latest obsession
Entertainment
3 w. I had lunch at a stylish new Edinburgh restaurant in surprising and secluded spot
Entertainment
3 w. ‘I tried London’s newest Pasta Evangelists restaurant and didn’t want to leave’
Entertainment
2 w. The Scottish island 'seafood shack' restaurant that is favourite of Nigella Lawson
Entertainment
4 w. I had my first Sunday lunch of 2026 in Edinburgh's grandest restaurant
Entertainment
32 h. I ate frozen Yorkshire puddings from Lidl, Tesco and more — one is better than Aunt Bessie's
Entertainment
2 w. Sông Quê Phở Bar, London E1: ‘The best phở in town’ – restaurant review
Entertainment
4 w. Dusk's 'fancy' glazed dinner set in the sale looks like it could be designer pottery
Culture
3 w. ‘Bring it back’: Sicilians say Antonello da Messina’s Ecce Homo belongs with them
Sport
1 M. A local’s guide to Milan: the city’s best restaurants, culture and green spaces
Entertainment
1 M. Helen Goh’s recipe for Valentine’s chocolate pots de creme for two | The sweet spot
Entertainment
7 d. Where the Chefs Eat: Trevor Gulliver's Favorite Restaurants in London (and Beyond)
Entertainment
2 w. 'I visited Woking Pizza Express and this is what locals really think about Andrew'
Entertainment
2 w. The food festival isn't dead. But social media is rewriting the recipe
Entertainment
4 d. Inside Iran’s rocketing prices: ‘Food is available – we just can’t afford it’
Economics
1 h. Auguste: New Italian restaurant inspired by Abruzzo to open in former Papi site
Entertainment
3 w. ‘The most quietly romantic town we have ever visited’ – the enduring charm of Chiavenna, Italy
Entertainment
4 d. I tried the best brunch restaurant in Wales and there's so much more to it than that
Entertainment
63 h. ITV's The Heat chef names Welsh bistro with rave reviews as favourite place to eat
Entertainment
1 M. How to cook the perfect brigadeiros for Valentine’s Day – recipe | Felicity Cloake's How to cook the perfect …
Entertainment
1 M. Prince William and Kate stun diners as they show 'true colours' at lavish restaurant
Entertainment
1 M. Jamie Oliver: Labour is extinguishing the spark that powers our brilliant food scene
Entertainment
Add Watch Country

arrow_drop_down