Luscious lasagne, dreamy tiramisu and flavoursome cannelloni… just like nonna used to make.
One bite of Italy At Your Door’s deliciously rich beef lasagne and your tastebuds are transported to la bell’Italia… Not surprising, since owner Carlotta Sabbalini is cooking straight from her Nonna Santina’s recipes to create this menu of delicious and wholesome, authentically Italian meals. And she delivers directly to your door in and around Cape Town. It’s home-cooked food that feeds the soul, and all you need to do is heat and tuck in… it’s amore at first bite.
From Sicily to Sea Point
Carlotta grew up in Novara near Milan, but her nonna came from Caltagirone in Sicily – and it is these regional flavours that Carlotta absorbed in her childhood kitchen. “She was always cooking for me, it’s the classic Italian theme, the grandmother cooking for all the family. And the kitchen is where I feel most creative,” says Carlotta.
After doing a masters in food and wine communication with Gambero Rosso (a leading Italian food and wine media company) Carlotta arrived in Cape Town and managed a juice bar, until her life turned upside down. “My grandmother died and I wanted to change my life. And then during Covid my house burned down, and my foster dog, May, woke me up and saved my life. I couldn’t leave her and go back to Italy. So I adopted her, moved to Sea Point and started a business.”
Ready to heat
Italy At Your Door was born from Carlotta’s dream to share her nonna’s recipes and Italian food culture. Her home-cooked range of ready-to-heat meals has a major focus on lasagne, which comes in single or double portions, or else a tray to feed six to eight people. The beef lasagne is traditional, meaty and packed with rich, slow-cooked flavour. Then there are equally good vegetarian pesto, veggie or pumpkin lasagne, a vegan lentil lasagne, decadent salmon, or low-carb ostrich. We also loved the herby ricotta and spinach malfatti in a butter and sage sauce, all generous portions and made with love.
Dreamy desserts
Carlotta lets her creativity go wild when it comes to tiramisu: we tasted the totally divine chocolate version. But depending on the day, she might riff on strawberry, panettone, rooibos or several other decadent variations, besides the classic tiramisu. “You can make thousands of tiramisu in Italy, I do different ones just for fun whenever I feel inspired,” she says.
Private dinners and cooking classes
The generous nonna-inspired vibe comes through clearly when Carlotta caters for private dinners in your home, or at her pop-up social tables (she’s done kitchen takeovers at Our Local, Taboerswinkel, Arthur’s Mini Super and Beau Constantia). And she also enjoys sharing her Italian food culture with interactive cooking classes.
Start by stocking up your fridge and freezer with authentic Italian flavours delivered to your door… buon appetito!
Good to know The best way to check out the menu is on Instagram @_italyatyourdoor
Contact +39 347 862 8161 (WhatsApp), 079 583 0329 (phone)
Where to find it Delivers within Cape Town
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