Sunday Lunch in Milan

Wander behind the Duomo to a little piazza San Fedele on Via Tommaso Marino and you will find a delightful trattoria serving one of the best risottos in town.

Spilling outdoors to the paved street and nestled between marble buildings so typical of Milan, you will not be disappointed with the restaurant. You may pay premium price but the meal it is well worth it - risotto €15 - 18 - meat dishes at €2.

We shared a Barolo 2007 from the Piedmont region - Terre del Barolo - perfect for the ossobuco con risotto alla Milanese (while in Rome!).

Mark had a Porcino risotto served in a Parmesan basket. He loved the delicately flavored fresh porcini creamy and slightly al dente but was a little disappointed with the addition of fresh tomato to the risotto.

Just around the corner is a gelati store not to be missed - cioccolat Italian. It's arguably the beat chocolate gelati in Milan and Nastassia's favourite while living in here .

Judging by the line outside - solid for the time we have been eating lunch - she's not the only one who thinks so.

Papa Francesco 

Melbourne Cup

Here's our Melbourne Cup menu -

ARRIVAL Complimentary glass of French bubbles

TRIO OF TAPAS Crab cakes w lime aioli, Sicilian ricotta meatballs w tomato sugo, Polenta chips

MAIN Oven roasted chicken kiev w bug meat, asparagus + béarnaise sauce

DESSERT Hazelnut + cherry tart w double cream

12.00md Tuesday 1 November 2011
$65 pp @ Tognini’s Trattoria Spring Hill
Bookings ) 3831 5300 | eat@togninis.com

Men in kilts

The room was heady with the smell of peat.

There were men in kilts! All that was missing was the bagpipes.

The tables were set with 200 glasses of whisky – and that was just the first round of Glenmorangie – five whiskys tasted in that round, then to be followed by three of Ardbeg’s finest!

Love your whisky?

Join other whisky lovers at Tognini’s Trattoria at 7pm on July 29 and let David Cross from Moet Hennessy walk you through a tasting of eight superb examples, all matched with a tapas tasting menu.

Sound like your idea of heaven? Here’s a little more to peak your interest – you’ll first taste the whisky neat and then with a little water.  The smokiness and strength of the whiskey will be matched with full flavoured food and there’s even talk of cigars on the deck after.

Here’s the whisky/food line up -

And then there were three!

The newest addition to the Tognini’s Group, Tognini’s Espresso at 20 Hynes Street, Fortitude Valley has just opened.

Positioned in the Fortitude Valley alleyway precinct, Tognini’s Espresso is staffed by Tognini’s ex State Library of Queensland head chef Claire Van Heerden and headed by Suzanne Walker moving over from Tognini’s Milton.

Tognini’s Espresso offers a fresh new dine in or take away flavour-filled menuTognini’s style menu with a blackboard lunch menu featuring daily specials of burgers, pizzas and tapas. The cabinet is the usual array overflowing with of salads and rolls filled with premium deli produce and special treats from the cabinet for sweet tooths.

The breakfast menu includes everything from Tognini’s famous muffins and organic sourdough fruit bread toast with lemon cream cheese, to more a substantial BLT, breakfast bruschetta or savoury mince with poached eggs. The coffee is, of course, Lavazza.

You’ll love the fun wall, a kaleidoscope of retro Lavazza Mio coffee machines that are all for sale. The new pared-back décor makes the most of the a large bank of folding windows in this green oasis with plenty of space for comfortable breakfast meetings.

Tognini’s Espresso seats 35 and will open from 7am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. P 3852 6230 valley@togninis.com

Take your valentine to Tognini's

Got someone special you want to treat on Valentine's Day?

Take them to Tognini's Spring Hill then sit back and enjoy!

There will be bubbles and marinated olives on arrival followed by a mezza platter to share. You'll love the
 prosciutto wrapped grissini sticks, Italian ricotta meatballs, Kataifi prawns w orange + paprika aioli and freshly shucked oysters.

There's a choice of main dish  -

• Tarragon chicken with braised cannellini beans and summer vegetables or pan fried white fish with heirloom tomato, asparagus and sugo bianco
• Whiskey risotto with grilled quail 
• Stracci di pasta with spicy aubergines, tomatoes, basil and parmesan

For dessert sink your lips into a luscious strawberry pannacotta or a chocolate tart.


All for $60.00 per person.


Don't forget to book! Ph 3369 6915

Tour French Champagne houses with the Togninis

Love champagne and food?

Sometimes life provides you with an opportunity – and this is one of them.

Join Mark and Narelle Tognini with David Cross from Moët Hennessy on a five night Champagne + Food Tour from  September 11-16.

You’ll experience the Champagne region in a unique way staying in boutique hotels.

•             Paris one night

•             Epernay two nights

•             Reims two nights

There will be visits to four champagne houses - including Moët + Chandon -  and a meal at a Michelin star restaurant in Reims. Best of all, you’ll travel in a small group.

Here's what you'll see

Nastassia, Maddie + Mark outside Moet + Chandon

Cellar storage of champagne – Pol Roger

The infamous Limestone caves of Moet Chandon

Magnum bottles of Pol Roger under cellaring

Some chickens that didn’t quite lose their heads !

Classic dish of snails, Epernay

Vintage Dom Perignon, house of Moet + Chandon

CHAMPAGNE AND FOOD TOUR 

Land content is $2,850 which includes transfers, accommodation, entries to champagne houses and most meals. Numbers are limited so you’ll need to secure your place with a $1,000 deposit by 28 February 2011.

For tour enquiries please contact Mark or Narelle: 07 3831 5300, eat@togninis.com

GETTING THERE: FLIGHTS

Exclusive airfare rates are available from our travel partner Dean Tuckwell  from The Adventure Traveller.

ECONOMY: Brisbane / Paris Return

•             Air France $1,700* + taxes (approx. $750)

•             Singapore Airlines $1,820*+ taxes (approx. $600)

BUSINESS: Brisbane / Paris Return

•             Air France $6,300* + taxes (approx. $750)

•             Singapore Airlines $7,700*+ taxes (approx. $600)

THE ADVENTURE TRAVELLER

197 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington Q 4064. 07 3369 0799 dean@theadventuretraveller.com

* All prices approximate and subject to change and available until January 2011.