Elisa is an Italian foodblogger of Sardinian roots, who’s been living in England since 2013. A lover of cooking and pastry since childhood, she ran a catering and pastry service for ten years with her mother, Paola.
After moving to Cambridge, Elisa worked as a private chef for some years, then she has devoted completely to her blog myfoodiedays.com, where she shares recipes of sweet and salty dishes of both (the) Italian and English tradition.
Here is our interview:
HI ELISA! HOW WAS YOUR PASSION FOR COOKING BORN?
My passion for cooking came about thanks to my mother; I used to spend hour after hour looking at her cooking, kneading, baking, at first for our family, then in our catering lab(oratory), where I have worked for ten years by her side. I developed over time a real love for pastry and cooking. A love that still lasts.
WHY THE NAME “MYFOODIEDAYS”?
Because my Instagram page and my blog were both born to record “my foodie days”, as I am a food and cooking lover.
HOW IS THE ITALIAN CUISINE PERCEIVED IN UK?
Italian cuisine is very popular in Great Britain. During the last years Italian restaurants have been on the increase, getting English people to know dishes from different regional traditions, far from the classical pizza.
Moreover, the so-called “deli” are very popular: they are proper Italian food boutiques where cold cuts, cheese, preserves and products from small Italian businesses can be found. English people love them!
WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR ITALIAN DISH IN UK?
It is definitely pizza. Don’t think about the famous and highly criticized pizza with ham and ananas. I’m talking about the real Neapolitan pizza, with thick eaves and strictly cooked in a wood oven.
WHICH ARE THE PRODUCTS AND DISHES OF THE ENGLISH CUISINE YOU LIKE THE MOST AND YOU WOULD SUGGEST ITALIANS TO TRY?
Among salty dishes, I would say the Shepherd’s Pie, which is a tasty minced meat and mashed potatoes pie, and the Scotch Egg, which are breaded and fried meatballs with an egg with the melting yolk inside.
On the other hand, among sweet dishes, I would suggest the classic Christmas pudding, which is never lacking on my Christmas table, and the scone. If I were to suggest a product, it would be the chutney, from India but very popular in Great Britain, which is a sauce, with a consistency similar to jam, sweet and spicy, excellent as an accompaniment to cheese and crostini.
YOU ARE FROM SARDINIA. WHAT IS THE TRADITIONAL DISH YOU’RE MORE ATTACHED TO?
The list could be long, but if I were to choose only one, I would pick culurgiones, ravioli with potatoes, cheese and mint closed with a particular spiky weave. Delicious both in white that with a simple fresh tomato sauce.
