San Carlo offers just this, and so the opportunity to try out some of the new items from the family-run restaurant’s autumn-winter menu was one I couldn’t turn down.
What awaited me at San Carlo’s branch in Hale was a number of bright and comforting dishes using fantastic ingredients and made with great technique, so it was a good thing I brought my appetite.
The restaurant had a vibrant atmosphere on a weeknight, with a mix of couples, families and colleagues(Image: Newsquest)
Starting off, myself and a guest shared a pair of starters: the Gamberoni alla Diavola – which was tiger prawns sautéed with garlic, fresh chilli, white wine and toasted Altamura bread – and the Heritage Tomato Salad, one of the new menu items.
The prawns were lovely and meaty and the salad packed a punch – multi-coloured, fresh tomatoes with deliciously creamy goats cheese and a very generous amount of black olives in a lovely dressing.
This dish was a prime example of how quality ingredients can make all the difference – I couldn’t stop going for more.
The bright Heritage Tomato Salad and Gamberoni alla Diavola(Image: Newsquest)
On to the mains, we both ordered items off the autumn-winter menu which proved to be seasonal and deliciously comforting – Trofie Salsiccia & Fagioli and Cartellate Zucca e Tartufo.
Trofie is a short, thin, twisted pasta from the Liguria region of north-western Italy and is chewy and dense.
The pasta came in a ragu-like sauce which had sausage, borlotti beans and tomatoes, topped with pecorino cheese.
The comforting Trofie Salsiccia & Fagioli(Image: Newsquest)
It was a dish that is perfect for this time of year as it gets colder, leaving you feeling warm and comforted by the chewy pasta and delicious ingredients.
As for the Cartellate Zucca e Tartufo, this dish was made up of two pumpkin and pecorino-stuffed pastas with sage, butter, and truffle.
Sage and pumpkin are best friends at this time of year, and this dish showed exactly why with the sharp taste of sage accompanied by the creamy pumpkin filling leaving you wanting more after each bite.
The very seasonal Cartellate Zucca e Tartufo(Image: Newsquest)
I’m not quite sure how, but the pair of us still had room for dessert after all of that. We took up the recommendation of the Meringata alle Fragole, or meringue cake with strawberries, and a slice of Torta Setevelli, which was a chocolate and hazelnut cake.
The meringue cake had light and fluffy layers separated by delicious cream and jam, with a strawberry sauce drizzled on top.
It was a fantastic, bright dessert to enjoy after a heavy main.
The Meringata alle Fragole was as pretty as it was delicious(Image: Newsquest)
As for the chocolate and hazelnut cake, a layer of smooth and creamy chocolate sits on top of a hazelnut layer with a thin base at the bottom, paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.
Simply, it is the ultimate indulgence.
As we move into the autumn and winter period, San Carlo is making the most of it by focusing on delivering delicious, seasonal ingredients in addictive dishes that will live long in the memory.
Chocolate and hazelnut go hand in hand, with this cake showing exactly that(Image: Newsquest)
Marcello Distefano, CEO at San Carlo Group, said: “Our new winter menu is a testament to our ongoing commitment to exceptional quality and authentic Italian cuisine.
“After a fantastic summer across all our locations, this seasonal launch sets the tone perfectly for the festive period and the start of the Christmas and party season.”
San Carlo has a number of locations across the country, including the Hale branch and a Manchester city centre branch on King Street, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
If you’re feeling autumnal and are looking to treat yourself to a cosy Italian meal which will stick with you for a while, look no further than San Carlo this time of year.
Dining and Cooking