Last summer I was lucky enough to work on a fantastic project, which saw a huge range of Michelin starred chefs take up a residency at one of London’s iconic buildings in central London. The Costardi Brothers were a part of this residencey and I will never forget tasting their signature tomato risotto. So I was super happy to hear that they are back in London, this time at the House of Peroni, an ambitious project by the premium Italian style brand to celebrate and showcase the new wave of Italian talent from food, drink, design, art and fashion.

I was invited to try a few bits from the menu last week and I have to say I was very impressed. The menu is called ‘Assaggi’, which is Italian for ‘taste’, and features an unexpected and contemporary take on traditional Italian dishes, with local ingredients imported from Italy’s Vercelli region. And the food menu is complimented by an amazing cocktail menu , which has been developed by Gerry Calabrese, one of the modern greats of the London bar scene, and son of Italian cocktail maestro, Salvatore Calabrese. The menu features six bespoke House cocktails inspired by the four core ingredients of Peroni Nastro Azzurro.

We munched on Deconstructed Parmigiana – a traditional lasagne-style dish with layered aubergine, tomato sauce and buffalo mozzarella, Tricolore Arancino – arancini balls made with red rice, white mozzarella and green pesto, The Italian American – a hamburger using beef from the Piedmont region marinated in Peroni Nastro Azzurro and the Costardi Brother’s Signature Risotto – a rich risotto dish with carnaroli rice, coffee powder, Grana Padano cheese and a Peroni Nastro Azzurro beer reduction.

We tried a couple of the cocktails and my favourite by far was On Thyme – a delicate Martimi-style drink of Peroni Nastro Azzurro bitters infused with thyme and blueberries, St.Germain, Martini Bianco, gin.

Launching fifty years after Carlo Peroni was inspired to create the Peroni Nastro Azzurro brand, The House of Peroni brings together and showcases the work and ideas of visionaries from across Italian design, art, fashion, photography, film, music, food and drink.

It has been created to celebrate this spirit of creativity and focuses on the Italian creative movement of today – the people, their work and the ideas – that are informing the creative landscape of tomorrow.

The residency in July showcases the best of the work and ideas alongside the dining experience including a programme of interactive workshops and design concepts.

I hear there will be another residency in November and I’m excited to see what that one will have in store.

The House of Peroni
41 Portland Place
London W1