The beauty of Italian food has always been in its simplicity. Though there are some fantastic Italian chefs who are constantly innovating, inventing and pushing the boundaries of their national food culture, the heart of Italian food still lies in classic home cooking and the celebration of wonderful produce. Take Cacio e pepe for example, the simple combination of three ingredients: pasta, cheese and black pepper. It sounds simple enough, but it’s the quality of the produce that makes the dish complete – without a fantastic Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly ground black pepper, it wouldn’t truly be cacio e pepe.
As a result, it pays to go looking for the best ingredients you can find, and there are a few places around the UK that go above and beyond to bring amazing Italian produce to your kitchen. We’ve rounded up seven of the best, from London to Edinburgh, so you can get a true taste of Italy for yourself.