From Sicily with love: Caffé

From Sicily with love

Caffè Isola’s Christmas Polenta Cake

Regular visitors to Caffè Isola will notice that Polenta cake is somewhat of a seasonal signature at Newport’s favourite artisan coffee house: from spring pairings of fresh lime pistachio and yoghurt to summertime spectacular lemon and berry

An Italian store-cupboard staple, the beauty of polenta – made from corn and naturally wheat and gluten free – is its artistic potential as a cake canvas. In Northern Italy, polenta is used mainly in savoury dishes, but its versatility and flavour also make it the perfect dessert dish. Back of house, the Caffè Isola team often hold light-hearted competitions to see who can come up with the most delectable fillings and original toppings for their next polenta pièce de résistance (or, rather more fittingly, pezzo forte). At Christmas time – inspired by fragrant parcels of Sanguinello Blood Oranges sent with love to owners Dan and Viviana Burgess’ children from their Sicilian ‘Nonno – Caffè Isola is once more filled with the festive scent of their famed Christmas Clementine and Fruit Polenta Cake. Somehow, the children’s favourite Sanguinello oranges never quite make it out of the couple’s kitchen at home; instead, sweet and juicy Sicilian clementines take centre stage in this Christmassy Italian pudding. Blending classic Italian baking with English teatime traditions – the perfect accompaniment to a flat white or English Breakfast tea – Caffè Isola’s polenta cake is lovingly baked in the shape of a Christmas wreath, served with finest mascarpone cream and topped with a festive array of almonds, mixed Christmas fruit, Sicilian clementines and fresh figs.

01983 524800 islandroasted.co.uk/caffe-isola