SAVOUR & S I P
RECIPES
A taste of the Italian Riviera LEVANTE CHEF ALESSANDRA SPAIRANI TALKS US THROUGH HER APPROACH TO ITALIAN CUISINE AND OFFERS UP A FEW FAVOURITE DISHES
or a small kitchen in the heart of Cambridge, Levante has built itself a big reputation. Cooking up fresh pasta, sauces, torte salate (vegetable pies)
and aperitivi, the offering is inspired by chef Alessandra Spairani’s native region of Liguria, bringing a taste of the Italian Riviera to plates across the city. “I’ve always been interested in (or obsessed with, depending on who you ask!) cooking for others, but was never brave enough to consider it as a career,” Alessandra explains. “However, when my job as a travel photographer disappeared during the pandemic, I started thinking of other ways to keep myself busy; cooking was my very first thought. To go from there to focusing on the dishes from my native region was a natural progression.” Alessandra teamed up with local pastry chef (and friend) Shannon Shafer for Levante’s recent pop-ups at Cambridge Cookery School, with accompanying wine and beer organised by Suzannah and Sam from Meadows Cambridge. Otherwise, she is responsible for everything involved with Levante’s weekly fresh pasta orders, from the website management, right through to cooking and delivery. She credits her Italian background as a core source of inspiration: “My Ligurian heritage permeates everything I do in the kitchen, and nurtured in me a desire for simplicity. I like to use few ingredients, and bold, clean flavours, but my love for travel has introduced me to so many new tastes and techniques. There are some traditional recipes that I wouldn’t change, but I also believe an open and diverse kitchen is a happy kitchen!”
ABOUT LEVANTE
There’s no shortage of delicious dishes to choose from at Levante, whether you’re looking for a satisfying plate of pasta, or just some freshly-made sauce to elevate your own dishes to heady new heights. Alessandra is always busy cooking up comforting classics, including many of her own personal preferences. “Pansotti with walnut sauce is an all-time favourite dish,” she says. “It is a traditional filled pasta, which is typically served with walnut sauce for Sunday lunch – it takes me right back to Liguria every time I eat it. “Torte salate, for which the Italian Riviera is well known, is another speciality I am proud of. I absolutely love making – and eating – it,” Alessandra adds. “The vegetable-based fillings (always vegetable,
Levante creates authentic dishes from the Liguria region of Italy, with weekly specials to keep things fresh. The team hosts pop-ups all over the city, and you can order fresh pasta, sauces and more online at levante.shop
never meat!), which vary according to the season, are often enriched with eggs, cheese and fresh herbs. Then, they are encased in crisp, unleavened pastry made with just flour, olive oil and water. The renowned torta pasqualina is a fine example of this very Ligurian dish.” Along with the fabulous menu available to order online, you can also catch Levante pop-ups in the city, or enjoy the kitchen’s private catering service at home. “We ran three pop-ups at the Cambridge Cookery School during the summer, and loved it! It was the first time for me, and I really enjoyed the whole experience,” Alessandra enthuses. Levante plans more events in the near future, but in the meantime, give these tempting Ligurian recipes a go...
MY LIGURIAN HERITAGE PERMEATES EVERYTHING I DO
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK NOVEMBER 2021 65
Powered by FlippingBook