September Risotto Festival at Strada Manchester

September 9th, 2009

Strada, the authentic Italian restaurant, will be holding a Risotto Festival in its Manchester restaurant throughout September to celebrate the classic Italian dish.

Four new risotto dishes will be available on the menu, inspired by the Northern Italian regions of Piedmont, Milan, Lombardy and Venice where risotto has its roots.

Rice arrived in Italy sometime in the 10th century. The north of the country took to rice farming four to five hundred years later making risotto the region’s signature dish. Risotto is still more widely eaten that pasta in the area.

The guest dishes are available throughout September, priced from £9.75.

Choose from Risotto All’aragosta e Gamberoni – sautéed tiger prawns and lobster – a fresh and simple seafood dish, or the autumnal flavours of Risotto Funghi e Castagne – porcini and mushrooms with roasted chestnuts. There is also Risotto Zafferano e Asparagi, a saffron infused risotto with asparagus spears and Grana cheese and Risotto Norcina – Italian sausage and chestnut mushrooms.

The guest dishes feature alongside Strada’s risotto specialities, including the Risotto Cappesante – pan fried scallops with white wine, lemon zest, chilli and basil – and the Risotto alla Zucca – pumpkin and butternut squash risotto with sautéed pancetta, wilted spinach and toasted pine nuts.

Maurice Maffeo, Strada’s development chef, says, ‘Risotto is one of Italy’s oldest dishes but also one of the most versatile. You can use just about any ingredient, which is why cooking a risotto can be almost as satisfying as eating it. The Risotto Festival will offer even more choice to our guests and celebrate all that is so wonderful about this eclectic dish.’

Strada offers diners a contemporary and stylish setting in which to enjoy great-tasting, authentic Italian food. As well as risotto, the menu includes handmade pizzas and fresh pastas as well as fish and meat dishes using only the finest fresh ingredients.

Strada also serves purely regional Italian wines, as well as beers and spirits, which have all been carefully chosen to complement the menu. In addition, each table receives complimentary bottled purified water.

Strada’s restaurant in Manchester is situated at 4A Leftbank, Irwell Square, Spinningfields. For further details call 0161 819 5691 or visit strada.co.uk.