ARMANDO VARLOTTA’S ITALIAN INSPIRATION

Italian chef Armando Varlotta, of Armando’s Kitchen in Cromwell, is bringing a taste of Italy to Central Otago with his Eat.Taste.Central main dish, Caramelle Ripiene con Pasta Sfoglia.

What was the inspiration for your Eat.Taste.Central dish?

It is a type of pasta you’ll find quite often in the northern part of Italy, near Piedmont, my home town. I haven’t been back to Italy for almost four years due to COVID-19, so I thought it was a nice tribute and something to remind me of my roots.

What local ingredients are you using in the dish?

I’ve sourced local herbs, kale, free range eggs, pumpkin and walnuts.

To see what’s on during Eat.Taste. Central and other regional highlights, visit centralotagonz.com

Clockwise from opposite page, main photo: The Store; Black Rabbit Cafe; Armando’s Kitchen; Maniototo Café; Ferris Road Brewery; Cocktails at The Store; Domaine Thomson Vineyard.