Ciao Gusto - Italian Food & Drinks Brands Come Together

If we call a group of geese a gaggle and a field of cows a herd what do we call a gathering of food producers from Italy? ...... a banquet of course!!

Ciao Gusto is an organisation made up of over 30 of Italy's most well known brands in the UK such as Barilla pasta, Lavazza coffee, Cirio tomatoes, Philippo Berio olive oil, Riso Gallo rice and of course Parmareggio parmesan cheese and many many more household names found in most UK kitchens.

Ciao Gusto has brought these major players in Italy's food scene together to share their passion and have teamed up with Ocado, the online shopping supermarket to offer these products in a special 'Italian Shop'.

To celebrate the fusion we were wined and dined at Giovanni Rana's London restaurant with a menu featuring most of the highlighted producers and a treat to be able to meet Giovanni Rana himself.

We were wined ... Zonin Chianti Classico DOCG Castello d'Alboa 2013 (incredibly smooth and easy drinking) and Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, valdadige DOC.

And fed so much food I thought I would burst!!

Freshly made bread, ciabatta and foccaccia which were placed on the table with Flippo berio Gran Toscano EVVO

My dream - chunks of 30 month old Parmareggio from Parmigiano Reggiano

A selection of fried ravioli, polenta fritters with a pecorino cheese sauce and an arrabbiata sauce

A selection of cold meats from Negroni with Ariccio Pecorino cheese

Giovanni Rana ravioli with Amalfi lemon and ricotta

Riso Gallo risotto with cured sausage

Barilla cannelloni with asparagus

After all the above and more there was pudding!

Panna Cotta with cherry jam, black cherries and biscuits - Tiramisu with Pandoro

The evening went on to include Lavazza coffee and Vecchia Romagna brandy after which good byes were said and carriages called.  

If you want to try any of the products in the Ciao Gusto Italian Shop in Ocado I recommend you do log on and give it a try.

I was a guest of Ciao Gusto and the Giovanni Rana. I was not paid to write this review and was not required to write a positive one.  As usual all opinions and photos are my own.