Zilli brings taste of Venice to Manchester

CELEBRITY chef Aldo Zilli has officially launched Cicchetti Manchester’s  menu for spring and summer, which may cause diners to think twice about any pending trip to Venice.

For some of the unique culinary delights on offer among the canal lanes of the northern Italian city are now on offer here.

talian Zilli, drafted in as chef consilere by the owner San Carlo Group run by chairman Carlo Distefano and sons Marcello and Alessandro, was on hand to present his array of dishes at a special event at Cicchetti on the ground floor of the House of Fraser building.

Cicchetti, an all-day eating concept, offers dishes at highly affordable prices, specially created by Zilli.

Particularly appealing is the Baccala Venetian cod pate with chickpea fritters at £6.95 and the Summer Bruschetta, with broad beans, mint, Parmesan and ricotta salata is a steal at £3.95.

Similarly impressive is the Strozzapreti – with asparagus, wild fennel peas, toasted pine nuts and mascarpone at £7.45.

But the star of the show for me was the Fillet of Beef, with pancetta, porcini and wild fennel at a reasonable £13.95.

With Cicchetti taking its name from small dishes that are traditionally served in bars in Venice, Sea Bream, grilled with artichokes at £9.70 is the perfect fit.

So too is the Lemon Sole with asparagus and baby clams at £9.95.
Spaghetti Vongole, baby clams with white wine with garlic and chilli (£8.90) and theTaglioni Missoni, with Missoni pasta, crab, asparagus, chilli, olives and capers (9.95), complete the new offering.