Starters

Pate di Scombro £6.75
Homemade mackerel pate, served with toasted ciabatta and horseradish sauce.

Capesante con Carciofi £7.25
Pan seared scallops served with artichoke mash and a spicy mixed leaf salad.

Tortelli al Cingale £6.95
Handmade pasta parcels with wild boar in a creamy wild mushroom sauce.

Main Course

Salmon con Tagliatelle £13.95
Pan seared salmon fillet served with mussels on a bed of tagliatelle in a cream sauce.

Papparadelle Marco £9.95
Tuscan ribbons served in a creamy mushroom sauce with spinach topped with grilled chicken breast.

Bistecca con Gamberoni £19.95
21 day aged sirloin steak, topped with three king prawns dressed in garlic butter.

Starters

Porchetta e Capesante £7.25
Oven roast pork belly with pan seared scallops and served with homemade apple puree.

Antipast o Mare e Monti £11.95
Antipasto board for two to share with mixed Italian meats, cheese, olives, artichokes & seafood salad.

Paccheri con Polpette della Nonna £7.25
A classic tube shaped pasta served with homemade spicy meatballs in a Neapolitan homemade tomato sauce.

Main Course

Pesce Ziniz £36.95
Seafood platter for two with sea bass, scallops, king prawns and sardines served with a side salad and rosemary potatoes.

Filleto Marco £19.95
21 day aged fillet steak cooked to your liking on a bed of mustard mash topped with parsnip crisps.

Pollo con Tagliatelle £14.95
Pan fried chicken breast on a nest of tagliatelle bound with sundried tomato, green olives and spinach in a creamy pink sauce.

Mediterranean culture, tradition and unbounded creativity, added to glamour and versatility make Dolce & Gabbana one of the best-known labels in the world. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have made a name for themselves with their sensual designs and unique style. The two designers have learnt to construe and impress their ideas. Hoards of young aspiring designers draw inspiration from them and fashion trendy people love to dress in their clothes. They’re also extremely popular with the A-list celebrity circles and have dressed numerous Hollywood stars and rock stars – Madonna, Monica Bellucci, Isabella Rossellini, Kylie Minogue and Angelina Jolie, to name a few.
Dolce & Gabbana take equal care in up both men and women. The typical Dolce & Gabbana woman the woman of today – strong and daring. And the same is true for the men’s line as well. This line is for the man who is comfortable with himself and his body, the kind of man who pays attention to his clothes.

Dolce & Gabbana and D&G
The Dolce & Gabbana Group has two brands – Dolce & Gabbana and D&G. The two founders have been the main designers and have moulded both lines on their style. They also pay attention to all facets of the business including growth strategies, whose main objectives and development.
The Dolce & Gabbana label doesn’t come cheap and is for the top end of the market. It covers a whole range of products including creation, production and distribution of clothing, knitwear, leather goods, footwear and accessories for the top end of the market. D&G and Dolce & Gabbana are inspired by the street, contemporary music and everyday life. It is a personal style free from the constraints of pre-conceived notions and formats.

Fashion is my passion but I don’t let it rule my life!

Born in the year 1949, Miuccia Prada entered family business by 1978. The leather goods Company, a family luxury was founded by Mario, grandfather of Miuccia Prada’s in 1913 in Milan. Though reluctant, Prada took over the reins of the company in 1978. By then Miuccia Prada had completed her studies and acquired a PhD in Political Science.

She was able to renovate the appearance of the products that were being manufactured in the company. She had great interest in unusual and varied fabrics that led to a characteristic trademark of products. The combination of materials was very different. The products of Prada were uniquely distinct due to two reasons. One, materials were used in very unusual contexts as against the normal and how they exactly fit the purpose.

She was a mime artist and did not actually think of taking over the company. She had been performing mime for about five years at Teatro Piccolo in Milan. She was a paid member of the Communist party and a women’s right champion during the seventies in Milan. She was soon able to prove her worth by about 1985. She designed a new line of handbags in black that were unlabelled, hard-wearing and finely crafted with nylon. These instantly became an overwhelming success. The bags were soon patronized by Marie Helvin and Jerry Hall. The bags were priced at about £250. Immediately after the success, another company that made similar bags sprang up and tried making more interesting bags. But Prada bags were meant only for models, super models and fashion designers across the world whose accessory choice was nothing but Prada.

In the year 1989, Prada was able to launch her ready-to-wear collection for women. The acclaim it received was amazing. The dresses were in complete contrast to the designs and fashion of the day. They contained plain and strict lines than the sensual and highly curve conscious designs. A journalist who admired these clothes commented that they were uniforms meant for the slightly disenfranchised. She was much inspired her own wardrobe that had hippyish clothes, more earthy and of natural fabrics. This led to the creation of her less expensive line Miu Miu, which used her nickname, and were in natural colors and fabrics. In 1993, Prada won the Council of Fashion Designers of America International Award for her stylish and clean designs on fine material and exemplary craftsmanship. After a year she was in New York for the first time. She also opened a boutique in London. In 1995, she presented her ready-to-wear collection for men and that was also a thumping success.

It was about the same time when she took over the reins of her company that she met her husband who was also her business partner. She attributes every success of her business to her husband. She also said that she would not have grown this much and be able to compete with other giants in the same field. Under Bertelli’s influence, the fashion house began its moves towards conquering greater heights and rivaling LVMH by 2000. During this period the labels such as Helmut Lang, Fendi, Azzedine Alaia and Jil Sander were added to their portfolio.

Prada, the Person

Prada has actually been able to create benchmarks when it comes to design, and depicts her eye for details. She is distinctly different from the like of her. She has disregard and sometimes even contempt for those who dictate fashion. She feels that fashion has to be regularly updated. This attitude of hers was able to rocket her towards $100 million projects that were permanent. Her stores sprang up in New York and in Tokyo by the precise Swiss duo Herzog & De Meuron. Unlike other designers who design with the color and material of their choice, Prada was quite different from them. She chooses a color that she does not like and begin to makes the best out of it.

Prada lives in the apartment that she lived when she was a child. She has a few friends. Every season she makes it a point to run her latest collections on the runways of Milan. Julie Gilhart was of the opinion that if one wanted to know what the season was famous for then one shouldn’t miss Prada’s show. Her shows and collections completely reflect her personality and depict her passion and energy for fashion designing.

Being very thoughtful, curious and independent, Prada once designed a raincoat that was transparent. It would remain transparent until it was wet and then become opaque. In the same season she was also able to capture the admiration with her quirky tchotchkes, beaded bags, embroidered suede moccasins and raffish straw hats that would interest any housewife who was visiting Venice. The company being immune to heavy economic decline, Prada has always stood as a symbol of strength and determination due to which she was able to pay off everything.

Prada is an example of luxury that is a welcome form of luxury. Unlike the fashion of 80s, the Prada fashion was not displayed explicitly. It was more of comfort, form, purity and grace. Her collection avoids vibrant coloring and appealing looks.

Miuccia Prada, who is entirely in charge of the companies creative decisions, says she bases her decisions mostly on intuition. She is reported to be overly selective about each detail of her design. Each product would be changed time and again in order to come close to Miucci Prada’s initial idea. Her husband Patrizio Bertelli is the businessman behind her success. He is responsible for the commercial side of the products and trade strategies.

The Company Prada

The total sale of Prada rose from 270 billion Liras in 1994 to 456 billion Liras in 1996 and was expected to rise by leaps and bounds in the following years. At least 55% of sales happen in Europe and the biggest export market being none other than Japan.

Prada has over 250 fully owned shops across the world. To maintain the control over retail exercises, it does not enter into agreements and other forms of duty-free outlets etc. Out of the existing line of products, new line on under wears and skiing were also added by 1997. Home wear was introduced in 1998. Prada perfumes are yet another amazing row of products that they can give to the world.

Without Prada, people would have been mixed up with vague colors, materials and fashion!

Starters

Sardine beccafico 7.95
Sardines stuffed with pine nuts, sultanas & parmesan cheese coated in breadcrumbs served with a mixed leaf & rocket salad

Bruschetta con alici £5.95
Chopped tomatoes with garlic, basil and olive oil served on homemade toasted bread topped with anchovy fillets

Mozzarella alla sorrentina £8.95
Fresh buffalo mozzarella coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried. Served with a rocket and cherry tomato salad

Main Course

Pollo con patate novelle £15.25
Corn fed breast of chicken on a bed of crushed new potatoes served with salsa verde and a rocket salad

Penne alla matriciana £9.25
Penne pasta cooked with bacon, onions, chilli, garlic and basil served in a tomato sauce

Filleto Rossini £20.95
Locally sourced 8oz fillet of beef cooked with a chicken liver pate, red wine, cream and brandy sauce served with homemade toasted bread

All Saints Day is celebrated November 1 and is a national holiday in Italy. On All Souls Day, November 2, Italians bring flowers to cemeteries to honor deceased relatives. During November you’ll find some music and cultural festivals and performing arts seasons are starting.

Truffles are the star of November Festivals in Italy. Many truffle fairs are held in northern and central Italy. You’ll also find chestnut festivals in many towns and villages during November. Restaurants will often have special meals highlighting truffles, chestnuts, or wild mushrooms especially on Sundays. Fall is a great time for eating in Italy.

Here’s a sampling of Italian festivals held during November in Italy.

Truffle Festivals

Piemonte Region: Alba White Truffle Festival ends the first weekend of November. The Alba White Truffle Festival in the Piedmont town of Alba (Piedmont Map) is one of the biggest truffle festivals in Italy. Read more about the Alba Festival from about’s Italian Cuisine.

Tuscany: San Miniato Truffle Fair – La Sagra del Tartufo Bianco, a truffle fair, is held in the medieval hill town of San Miniato in the Pisa Province of Tuscany on the second, third and fourth weekends in November. 25% of Italy’s white truffles are produced in this territory and November is the heart of truffle gathering season. There will be food and craft stands and entertainment and restaurants will feature truffle menus. If you haven’t had truffles, this is a great place to get an introduction. The Europe for Visitors guide has a great Illustrated tour of the San Miniato Truffle Fair

Fall Italian Truffle Fairs – More truffle festivals in Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria, Le Marche, and Emilia Romagna regions of Italy.

Music and Performing Arts
Romaeuropa Festival is Rome’s big festival of theater, music, and dance held in venues throughout Rome from late September through early December.

Opera Season starts in many of Italy’s Top Opera Houses.

More November Festivals

Verona: The International Horse Show, the second weekend of November, draws participants come from all over the world. There is a parade with decorated horses and period costumes through the city on opening day.

Venice: Festival della Salute is held November 21. The festival, held at Madonna della Salute Church, commemorates Venice’s deliverance from the plague in 1621. A temporary bridge is erected across the canal and thousands of pilgrims cross to the church.

Starters

Rissotto Carciofi £7.25
Bacon and artichoke risotto with white wine and butter topped with a single scallop

Funghi con Pecorino £6.95
A large flatcap mushroom stuffed with goat’s cheese with mixed leaves and a balsamic drizzle

Linguine con Pollo £6.95
Pesto linguine, with strips of chicken, topped with parmesan shavings and extra virgin olive oil

Enjoy x

Main Course

Sogliola con Pappardelle £16.95
Sole fillets on a nest of creamy pappardelle with pan-fried peppers, onions and mushrooms

Pollo Marco £13.95
Chicken breast stuffed with fontina cheese on a bed of spicy arrabiatta sauce, topped with mortadella ham

Filleto con Polenta Fritti £19.95
Fillet steak, on a bed of Mediterranean vegetables in a spicy tomato sauce, with polenta chips

Starters

Anatra Insalata £6.95
Duck breast, on mixed leaves with a cinnamon and orange  sauce with raspberries

Bruschetta Pecorino £7.25
Goats cheese and Mediterranean vegetables on toasted ciabatta on a nest of rocket, drizzled with a balsamic glaze

Gamberoni Fritta £7.25
Bread crumbed king prawns on a bed of salad with spicy tomato dip.

Main

Tortelloni Ziniz £9.95
Ricotta and spinach tortelloni in a pancetta and mushroom sauce, with cream and white wine.

Branzino Marco £14.95
Sea bass fillets on a bed of tomato and courgette rissoto

Filleto Funghi £18.95
Fillet steak, on a bed of grilled mushroom polenta, with a red wine – and wildmushroom sauce

Enjoy

October is a great month for Italian food festivals, especially for mushrooms, chestnuts, chocolate and truffles and you’ll find them not only on restaurant menus but as the star of many festivals in northern and central Italy. On October weekends, you’ll find fall food festivals and wine harvest celebrations all over Italy. Slow Food’s big International Food Event is in October and World Pasta Day is the fourth Sunday in October.

Although Halloween is not such a big celebration in Italy, it’s becoming more popular and you may find Halloween or All Saints Eve events, especially in the larger cities.

October is usually a pleasant time to travel in Italy, although it can still be high season in popular cities like Rome. In early October the feast day of Saint Francis is celebrated in several places and in Piedmont there’s a reenactment of the Man in the Iron Mask.

While the main holidays are still All Saints Day on November 1 and All Souls Day on November 2, the custom of celebrating Halloween is starting to take hold in many Italian cities.

Starters

Gnocci con Funghi £5.95
Potato Gnocci in a creamy mushroom and bacon sauce

Bruschetta all Barese £5.95
Bruschetta topped with chopped tomato, goats cheese and fresh basil

Pate di Tonno £5.75
Homemade tuna pate served with toasted bread

Main

Tortelloni con Ricotta £9.95
Spinach and ricotta tortelloni in a creamy tomato and mushroom sauce

Spaghetti Ziniz £9.50
Homemade spicy meatballs in a tomato sauce, on a bed of spaghetti

Branzino con Gamberetti £14.95
Fillets of sea bass, on a bed of tagliatelle with baby prawns, spinach, white wine and cream

Enjoy