As English traditions go, a Sunday roast ranks right up there with a good cup of tea and a pint by an open fire in the pub, you just can’t whack it.
That is not to say we have a monopoly on the idea. And it should come as no surprise that Italian culture, so deeply rooted in food and family, should also hold the humble Sunday dinner close to their hearts.
Everywhere from Naples to Milan, folks gather round for a wholesome multi-course feast, presumably followed by a late afternoon spent dozing on the divani watching Serie A.
The inside of Piccolino Caffe Grande (Image: Supplied)
Piccolino Caffe Grande, has been offering some of Manchester’s finest Italian dining for nearly 25 years, so when the opportunity arose to see how they do Sunday grub, this reviewer did not need asking twice.
The Feast Italiana menu is available all week and features a handpicked collection of Piccolino’s best dishes.
Priced at a very reasonable £25 for two courses, including some of the lighter bite options, it has recently been extended to include their famous Sunday roast, with a choice of herb roast chicken, roasted beef rump, mixed nut roast or slow roasted pork belly with rosemary, garlic and sage.
The roast is priced at a very reasonable £25 for two courses (Image: Supplied)
There are seven starters from which to pick from, ranging from crispy truffle arancini to a light mozzarella salad.
I opted for calamari with a chilli and lemon mayonnaise and didn’t regret my choice – the squid was tender, the batter crisp and not overtly oily and the lemony dip had just enough bite to cut through.
My wife went for the wild mushroom bruschetta, which along with smelling divine, was also plated so attractively, it was a shame to eat it.
There are seven starters to pick from (Image: Supplied)
Then the main attraction. I had already caught sight of a Yorkshire pudding at a nearby table which was the size of my head, so was prepared when the meal arrived that this would be a proper test of my resolve.
I went for the pork – which melted in the mouth, the fat rendered perfectly with just enough salty cracking.
The plate was filled to the brim with trimmings, the star of which was the braised cabbage and roast carrots. The roast potatoes were, in truth, not as crispy as I’d like, but that’s just personal preference.
Sample platter of cannoli, rum baba and sfogliatella (Image: Supplied)
I did take down the Yorkie, it did not beat me. My wife sensibly left half of hers and enjoyed the rest with the beef, which was cooked to order.
Neither of us had much space for desert but there was a sharer sample platter of Italian specials like cannoli, rum baba and sfogliatella, which turned out to be a perfect way to finish a lovely meal.
Piccolino Caffe Grande is known for its high-end dining, but at £25 for two courses this also represents some real value, whether it is Sunday lunch or a midweek meal.
Dining and Cooking