Sardinian Christmas Food

Christmas is nearly here and all good Sardinian housewives are now in their kitchens full time preparing the annual feast. With many of the dishes handmade or freshly picked from local allotments, all the wonderful fare has a truly great taste even though there will be far too much!  Typically fish will be served on Christmas Eve before attending midnight mass – then the real festivities begin. Should you wish to amaze your loved ones with a Sardinian Christmas lunch there here is an idea of what you need to serve up on the 25^th – a true feast!

Antipasti vari: A mix of beautifully prepared  bits and pieces – stuffed olives, filled vol-au-vents, tiny pizzettas, warm breads, wafer thin local ham, sliced cured sausage and much more. Overdosing is easily done here and to be avoided if possible as there is so much more to go!

Primi: Depending on family preferences, here the choices will be:  Gnocchi al ragu – tasty homemade tiny rolled gnocchi with delicious thick tomato and meat sauce.  Ravioli filled  with ricotta and fresh spinach served in melted butter with sage.  Pasta al forno – a much loved dish for children (and grown-ups!) better known as “lasagne”.

Secondi: Maialetta al forno – a wonderfully crispy roast suckling pig. Cinghiale al sugo – with the hunting season in full swing at this time of the year, wild boar is always found on the menu.

Contorni: Raw fennel straight from the earth – perfect vegetable with the pork as the freshness combats the delicious fatty meat. Patate al forno – the meat will have been slowly roasted with a large tray of oily potatoes covered in chopped rosemary.

Dolci:  Tiramisu – a favourite worldwide with mascarpone, strong coffee and sponge fingers.  Sumer fruits soaked in grappa – reminds you of the hot summer days and the grappa is pleasantly calming to a rather full tum!   Panettone – the traditional Christmas cake that is always purchased (and not home-made) in beautiful bright seasonal wrapping and full of raisins and candid fruit.

Local wine will abound throughout – fizzy Torbato so start with followed by cool white Vermentino and full-bodied red Cannonau.  Water will be the only soft drink on offer as a true Italian would never entertain a bottle of coca-cola (or the likes) anywhere near the table.  A good selection of home-made “digestivi” will help the digestion slowly get back to normal during the course of the afternoon (and also greatly help the post-lunch snooze!) – fruit liqueurs such as limoncino and the much loved “mirto” .

Should you wish to cheat a little and taste some of this wonderful food, typical dinners are often served throughout the year – if you stay at any of the following hotels you will be able to taste some of these super dishes rustled up by the experts!

Lu Ciaccaru - http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/sardinia_hotels_lu-ciaccaru.php
Hotel Rocce Sarde - http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/sardinia_hotels_hotel-rocce-sarde.php
Tenuta Pilastru - http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/sardinia_hotels_agriturismo-tenura-pilastru.php
Su Gologone - http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/sardinia_hotels_hotel-su-gologone.php

Buon appetito e tanti auguri per un natale felice e pacifico.
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Sardinia - the Vandal invaders & Gerri Halliwell

Around this time each year we review the content on our website (www.sardinianplaces.co.uk) to make sure everything is up to date and still relevant. Today I came across an article a colleague had added during the summer about well known people holidaying in Sardinia. In particular the article mentioned the walking role model that is Naomi Campbell and Prince Andrew. Co-incidentally Prince Andrew is in the news again at the moment following a few outspoken remarks whilst heading a trade delegation in Kyrgizstan. Now I know Sardinia has long been regarded as a glamorous summer retreat for the rich and famous, but how true is this? Most of the customers that travel with us, often families with younger children always seems quite grounded and down to earth, is Sardinia really awash with film stars, media moguls and international jet-setters? 

A quick google of “celebrities in Sardinia” threw up a few names, some more familiar than others, Rod Stewart, Penny Lancaster, Paul Smith, Sebastian Vettel, Christiano Ronaldo.....delving deeper into the search results revealed a footballing holy-trinity of “Lampard, Redknapp & Crouch” followed by Christine Bleakley, Gerri Halliwell one particular search result screamed “Janet Jackson vacations in her bikini!” as if wearing a bikini on holiday were strange or extraordinary. So it would seem there is some credence to this whole Sardinian celebrity appeal. So what is the draw? As an island (and a big one at that) located in the Mediterranean, for exploring and expanding nations Sardinia was a place that would be hard to miss. From Phoenicians to Romans, Vandals to Arabs, Genoans to Spaniards all have held and lost control of the island. I guess you could say that Sardinia has always been popular.

Sardinia of the modern era, whilst indisputably Italian retains a fiercely independent character, shaped over time by its interaction with many nations. Different cultures have all contributed to the art, architecture and cultural life of Sardinia. Is this what draws Gerri and Christine, Frank and Jamie? Probably not, I suspect it is the great beaches, climate and fashionable reputation that pulls in the celebrity crowd.  In reality if you visit Sardinia it's probably not that likely that you are will bump into Rod Stewart (it depends on who you are as much as where you go on holiday), you will off course get to breathe the same air, bask in the same gorgeous sunlight and dip a toe in the same turquoise sea....