A belated Happy New Year to all our customers.
A busy week here in Lake Como, we have just returned from attending the VRMA conference in Paris where we collected a whole host of Industry insights for the vacation rental market helping us explore new ways to offer our valued guests the most authentic, local and value for money holiday experience yet!
Watch this space for more details.
We hope you are ready to spend some time with us at one of our tailored made holiday homes throughout Italy. We have been taking bookings to help make your Italian dream break a reality as well as adding new homes to our site.
See a selection of our latest properties added from the opulent luxury of our private lake view pool villa with panoramic lake views of Bellagio
VILLA ROGARO. Sumptious pool villa for 12 with 180 degree views of Bellagio.
to a superb value family home for 14 with majestic views directly overlooking Lake Como’s famous island of Comacina
to a new pool complex of four family homes offering air conditioned comfort and more magnificent views such as
Check out our site for more details..
Ossuccio Grande “C“ Private home with pool, terrace, garden & private parking
Not only that, but here at Italian Apartments we have been busy selecting wine for our guests to sample on arrival at the annual Brunello tasting in Moltacino. An onerous task I admit, but someone has to do it!
Sesti, Mastroianni, Gianni Brunelli, Ventolaio, Paradiso Manfredi, Fattoi and
were just some of our favourites from the 2012 reserve and 2013 Brunello’s available.
Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for some of our favourite recipes to enjoy at your holiday home.
https://www.facebook.com/italianapartments
https://www.instagram.com/italian_rentals/
This mushroom risotto is a favourite, the recipe of which has been much requested! Give it a try and get in the mood for your Italian summer sojourn.
Ingredients
Rosemary sprigs, truffle oil
serves x2 double quantities for more
The measurements are approximate. Choose amounts to suit your taste. This is not science, it is Italian cooking, so any measuring it done in your head and to taste!! Bring the broth to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan and strain the mushroom liquid from the dried porcini mushrooms into the liquid to add a richer stock.
Melt the butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil. Add the onions and saute until tender, but not brown. Add the white mushrooms and garlic. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the porcini mushrooms to a cutting board. Finely chop the mushrooms and add to the saucepan. Saute until the mushrooms are tender and the juices evaporate, about 5 minutes.Add a stem or two of rosemary to infuse the flavour and leave in the dish as you cook for approx 10 mins to infuse the flavour of the herb. Stir in the rice and let it toast for a few minutes. Add the wine; cook until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Cool slowly and continue to stir regularly for the rice to release its starch which makes the dish rich and creamy. Add 1 cup of hot stock; simmer over medium-low heat until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook slowly until the rice is just tender and the mixture is creamy, adding more broth by cupfuls and stirring often, about 28 minutes. Take off the heat when al dente. The rice should be wet and loose when you add the butter to allow the cheese to thicken slightly. Mix in the Parmesan. The rice should form a ripple when she shake the pan. If not add a little more stock. The risotto should not be too soup or starchy but exactly like the photo here when served so only warm the plate a tad to stop the dish from drying out even a little. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Drizzle with truffle oil and sprinkle if desired with chopped flat leaf parsley.
If you need to get in the mood for your Italian escapade you could do worse than watch our favourite Italian thriller, The Talented Mr Ripley starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyeth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett.
We must have watched this film hundreds of times now! The breathtaking scenery makes a memorable film into a simply magnificent one. If you haven’t seen the film, do give it a whirl, its a master in cinematic photography.
Watch the trailer here!
We will be adding new homes to our site soon so please keep checking our site, blog, Facebook and Instagram for more details.
We look forward to welcoming you on arrival.
We live and work here on Lake Como and will be delighted to recommend places to visit, restaurants etc to help
you get the very most from your stay and live life here like a local. Whether you need to know where the best place to find local produce, arrange wine delivered to your door ready to enjoy on your arrival or help with purchase tickets for football matches we are here to help.
Buon Vacanze!
Barrie and Julie
