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Celebrate Natale the Italian way!
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Ciao! With all the Christmas decorations up and the tree full & twinkly, we just cannot wait for all the festive fun times to begin! Did you know that in Italy, Christmas is an extended holiday and is celebrated for almost a month? Yes, Starting from December 8th - the Feast day of immaculate conception it is celebrated throughout the month and ends by January 6th, the 12th day of Christmas - Epiphany. If you are a true lover of this holiday, then you must experience an Italian Natale, because it's certainly like no other!
Every festival is made of beautiful traditions, Christmas in Italy is no different and is filled with usual + some unusual customs. We are sure you know all the usual ones, so, let’s uncover some unique Italian Christmas traditions today!
| No Meat on Christmas Eve |
On the 24th of December, La Vigilia is celebrated with all kinds of deliciousness except for meat. As per catholic tradition, the meat-free meal is meant to purify your body ahead of a religious day. So, Christmas eve in Italy is all about fantastic seafood delicacies. This tradition gives a reason to enjoy all the fabulousness that seafood has to offer, to the fullest! The main dishes prepped are - marinated anchovies/tuna, codfish served along with potatoes, seafood soup, mussels, shrimp and a lot of clams with pasta!
| Visit from - La Befana: The good Christmas witch |
Now we have all heard about Santa Claus, in fact, kids in every part of the world are super excited to meet him every year and tell him all about what they want this holiday season. But, in Italy, kids are even more excited about a visit from La Befana on the eve of the 5th of January. They leave out their shoes/socks to be filled with special chocolates by her - where, good kids get the pretty candies and coal-like candies are for naughty ones!
Folklore has it that, Befana was an old lady who wanted to bring gifts for baby Jesus but lost her way. Since then, she is trying to find her way to Bethlehem each year in January. It is believed that with her broom, she sweeps away all the negative energy.
A visit from - La Befana, for sure a unique affair you will find only in Italy!
| Traditional Desserts |
When we talk about Italian Natale, how can we not mention the amazing dolci that are famous worldwide! Yes, we are talking about the very own Italian sweets of the season - Panettone, Pandoro, Torrone and more! These are household recipes that are a must-have for Christmas celebrations. Try it once and you will not stop till you finish the entire cake, it is that delectable! The unique sweet bread, prepared especially during the holiday season is super soft, tasty, and ideally used to create unique holiday desserts.
Panettone is best served with a delicious spread, Pandoro can be used to create a lovely Christmas tree dessert or just add it all up in a basket and gift it to your near and dear ones!
At Casinetto, we source the best products Italy and Europe has to offer and bring them to your dinner table. Have a look at our Christmas specials + Christmas dinner collection to get everything you need this jolly season.
Buon Appettito
Posted on December 16, 2022
Every Dessert Has a Season. Tiramisu Didn't Get the Memo
Every dessert has its season. This is not an opinion, it's just true, and somewhere inside you, you already know it. Chocolate lava cake is in December. The kind of thing you order when it's cold outside and you've stopped pretending to care about anything. Panna cotta is July, white, minimal, barely there, like it's also too hot to try. Crumble is October without question. Apple, pear, whatever's in the bowl, it belongs to grey skies and Sunday afternoons and the specific melancholy of a season ending. These desserts have their moment. They know it. They stay in their lane. Tiramisu does not stay in its lane Tiramisu shows up in January when you need something that feels like a decision. It shows up in April because the weather is nice and why not. It's on the menu in August at that outdoor restaurant and you order it even though it's 38 degrees because of course you do. It appears at Christmas, at birthdays, on a Wednesday with no occasion whatsoever. It does not check the calendar. It does not ask if this is a good time. And the thing is, it's never wrong. That's what separates it. Seasonal desserts are right once a year, maybe twice. Tiramisu is right in the way that a good espresso is right, in the way that sitting down after a long day is right. Not because of the weather. Because of what it does. It lifts. That's the whole job, and the job doesn't have an off-season. There's a reason Italian nonnas aren't making tiramisu only in autumn. There's a reason it's on every menu, in every month, in every city that has ever decided to take dessert seriously. It's not nostalgia. It's not a habit. The combination, espresso, mascarpone, cocoa, patience, works on a human being regardless of what the temperature is outside. Some things are just built differently The ones that prove it every time, in every season, start with the right ingredients. Mascarpone that tastes like it came from somewhere specific. Savoiardi that haven't forgotten what they're for. Cocoa that finishes clean. Not seasonal. Not occasional. Just right.
Casinetto Named Best Gourmet Food Supplier by CPI Media Group
We're proud to announce that Casinetto has been recognised as Best Gourmet Food Supplier by CPI Media Group, a distinction that reflects years of dedication to elevating the regional culinary landscape. What This Recognition Means This award acknowledges more than our product portfolio—it recognises our role as a trusted partner to the UAE and KSA's most discerning culinary professionals. From Michelin-starred kitchens to boutique delis, our clients rely on us to source ingredients that meet the exacting standards their reputations demand. The selection process evaluated suppliers across multiple criteria: product authenticity, supply chain reliability, portfolio diversity, and commitment to quality assurance. CPI Media Group's rigorous assessment underscores what sets Casinetto apart in an increasingly competitive market. The Casinetto Standard Excellence in gourmet food supply isn't just about logistics—it's about curation. Every product we represent, from French artisanal cheeses to Italian charcuterie, Spanish olive oils to premium pantry essentials, undergoes careful evaluation for provenance, quality, and market fit. Our team works directly with producers across Europe and beyond, ensuring traceability, authenticity, and consistent availability. This direct-source approach means our partners get more than products—they get the story, the expertise, and the assurance that comes with genuine partnerships. Looking Ahead As the regional F&B sector continues to evolve, so does our commitment to bringing the world's finest gourmet products to the Gulf. This recognition from CPI Media Group validates our approach and motivates us to raise the bar even higher. To our restaurant partners, retail clients, and culinary professionals who trust us with their most important ingredient decisions: thank you. Your standards drive our excellence. The best tables in the region deserve the best ingredients. That's the promise we renew with this recognition.
Italian Cuisine at the Heart of UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage
UNESCO has given special cultural heritage status to Italian cooking, viewing it as so much more than simply a set of recipes. This award honours Italian cuisine as a living tradition, as something to be practised, shared and handed down from one generation to the next. National favourites like pizza were already on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, but this respect extends beyond that. It honors italian traditional cooking in its entirety, and the way it is taught, preserved and practised all over Italy, both at home, where the teachings have been passed down from generation to generation in families, and through other venues such as home kitchens, food schools for young children and adults as well. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has championed the recognition of Italian cuisine since her election, captured its essence perfectly when she said that Italian cuisine is not just food or a set of recipes, but a culture, tradition, labour, and collective wealth. What Does This Mean? For millions of food lovers worldwide, this recognition is a reminder that the cuisine of Italy is worth slowing down to savour. It celebrates cooking that honours time, technique and ingredients selected with care. From crunchy Sicilian cannoli to Calabrian ’nduja, Italian food continues to excel by being characterful, deep and rooted in place. The announcement was made during a UNESCO assembly meeting in Delhi, where the cultural agency described Italian cuisine as a powerful way of connecting with family and community, whether at home, in schools, or through festivals, ceremonies, and social gatherings. Luigi Scordamaglia, CEO of Filiera Italia, has referred to the distinction as a joint success for the entire Made in Italy supply chain, underlining the team effort behind Italian food, from producers and handicrafts people to those who renew this tradition every day. He additionally stressed the Mediterranean diet, adding that when we refer to it, we are really talking about Italian cuisine itself, which is based on balance in unity, variety and respect for produce. At Casinetto, this recognition comes all too naturally. It embodies the same virtues we admire in any product we decide to carry: authenticity, tradition and food that tells a story worth preserving. We collaborate with producers who cherish tradition, value quality ingredients and believe in the integrity of their craft rather than cutting corners. The things we have on our shelves are not the result of trend-chasing, but rather an appreciation for the stories and know-how behind them, values that, by celebrating certain practices around the world, UNESCO has decided to endorse.