Discover our partnership with Head Chef Francesco Rota
Discover traditional Italian recipes with Val Verde, prepared by Francesco Rota using authentic Italian ingredients.
Discover our heritage
You know authentic Italian cooking when you experience it. It comes from simple, quality ingredients and a delight in recreating traditional recipes. Italian cooking is about a simplicity of process, the right ingredients and knowing the right flavours. That is what Val Verde is about. With Val Verde everyone can discover their inner Italian. Read More>
Discover our ingredients
Val Verde is an Australian owed brand inspired by Italian cuisine and created for home cooks. Sourcing our products from Italy to age-old family traditions for over 20 years., our aim is to bring the best quality ingredients to Australian families. Read more>
Discover recipes and regions
Take a look at our recipes where we hope to inspire you to cook the best Italian you can, every time. Read More>
At Val Verde, we’re passionate about discovering the regions of Italy. Each region has a unique history, cuisine and lifestyle, ready to explore. Click on a region to learn more, there are 20 to discover.
Bordering with Switzerland and France, Piedmont is Italy’s second-largest region. Surrounded by three sides of the alps, there is plenty of beautiful scenery. The capital city Turin is known as the Italian car manufacturing capital.
The Piedmont region cuisine is full of rich flavours and full-bodied wines. Dishes generally include rice, polenta and truffles. Piedmont also has superb vineyards and is home to popular wines like Barolo and Barbera.
One of Italy’s northern regions, sharing a border with Switzerland. This region includes many grand lakes, such as Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda. Lombardy is also home to Milan, recognised internationally as the Italian fashion capital.
This region is known for rich, hearty food. Rice is a popular grain for cooking, often found in soups and risotto. Some of Italy’s most famous cheeses originate here, such as gorgonzola and mascarpone.
A northern region of Italy bordering with Switzerland and Austria. Home to some of Italy’s most spectacular mountains and seven national parks. A must visit is the Dolomites Alps, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a truly unforgettable experience for winter sports lovers. Trentino-Alto Adige cuisine has Austrian and Hungarian influences. Some dishes to try are Canederli or Strudel.
Full of natural and artistic attractions and known for Italy’s most romantic cities; Venice and Verona! A must visit is Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy and a popular holiday destination. Fish, rice and polenta are commonly featured in Veneto cuisine.
One of the smallest Italian regions bordering on the northwest coast, known as the Italian Riviera. The most impressive stretch of this coastline is the popular tourist attraction the Cinque Terre, a group of 5 picturesque villages accessed by train or ferry.
The region is well known as the birthplace of pesto, which is traditionally served with trenette or trofie pasta. Liguria is also known for the focaccia Genovese, the original focaccia, recognised for its thickness (usually 1-2 centimeters) and a golden, dappled crust.
This northern region is one of the leading agricultural regions in Italy. A must visit is Bologna, home to the oldest universities in the western world. The town of Parma has a spectacular church, the Duomo di Parma, filled with breathtaking Renaissance art.
Emilia-Romagna is famous for its food, the birthplace of ragu, lasagne bolognese, parma prosciutto, balsamic vinegar and parmigiano reggiano. The cuisine of this region is characterised by deeper flavours and heartier texture.
The largest region in Italy, and one of the most popular with tourists. Home to the leaning tower of Pisa and the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, there is plenty to see and do. A must visit is the Duomo, a terracotta-tiled dome in the capital city Florence.
Tuscan food is rustic, using basic staple ingredients such as bread, spelt, legumes and vegetables. Although the food is quite simple, it is often rich in flavour and filling. Tuscany also has a wine region, most known for Chianti a dry style red wine.
Known as “the green heart of Italy”, this region is covered in lakes, mountains and forest. Umbria is the only region in Italy having neither a coastline or border with another country. A must visit is Marmore Falls, a truly breathtaking natural beauty. The town of Assisi is also spectacular, a picturesque town perched on a hill was the birthplace of St Francis one of Italy’s patron saints. Umbria has a reputation for producing incredible cured meats and truffles. When it comes to pasta, Umbrian cooks traditionally make pasta with only water and flour.
Lazio – One of Italy’s glorious regions, full of natural beauty, history and delicious food. Rome is famous for its history & architecture from the Colosseum to the majestic Vatican City and is also known as ‘Eternal City’. A must visit place is Viterbo, the northernmost province of Lazio which is filled with green landscapes and enchanting medieval villages.
Situated in Southern Italy, stretching along the Tyrrhenian Sea. Home to the largest city in southern Italy, Naples! There is plenty to see in Campania, the island of Capri is breathtakingly beautiful. The region is known for creating the Neapolitan Pizza, a soft dough pizza with raised swollen edge (termed Cornicione in Italian) traditionally topped with a San Marzano tomato sauce and buffalo mozzarella cheese. The Caprese Salad is also a well-known dish from the Campania region, originating on the Island of Capri.
Spanning Italy’s south coastline, bordering with the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea. Known for its stunning beaches, cute little towns and villages. Lecce is a charming city often labelled the ‘Florence of the South’ due to the many Baroque monuments found here.
The cuisine in Puglia tends to be simple, relying on their fresh, local produce. Seafood and vegetables are common focal ingredients in recipes.
The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. There is plenty to see, from the stunning white beaches of Scala dei Turchi and Spiaggia dei Conigli to Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe. A must visit is Taormina and Lampedusa. Sicily is known for numerous dishes, including Arancini, Cannoli and Caponata.
Turin
Venaria Reale
Lake Maggiore
Milan
Arco, Trento
Dolomites Alps
Manarola, Cinque Terra
Genoa
Bologna
Duomo di Parma, Parma
Val d’Orcia
Duomo, Florence
Viterbo
Rome
Polignano a Mare
Lecce
Scala dei Turchi
Taormina
