San Carlo Classic Crisps (50g)

Product Information

It’s one of the world’s truly great cuisines. But perhaps the stellar heights achieved by a perfect Spaghetti alla Carbonara; or Ossobucco; or Bistecca alla Fiorentina can begin to explain why, in a kind of strange inverse ratio, Italian junk food is…well…junk. Aldo handed over the delicacy, as a welcome gesture, to old friend Carmine Sacco of San Carlo in Birmingham and diners at the popular Temple Street restaurant will be able to try the world’s most expensive food for themselves. So these crisps are made with fresh, ripe, juicy Scottish tomatoes from the sun-kissed hills, glens and mountains ? Because the sad truth is that although Highlander Caledonian Tomato Crisps might yet turn out be a marketing masterstroke, they taste really, really, really, really… San Carlo has brought quality, originality, and style to the world of Italian crisps. It’s the largest Italian chips brand in the sector, and it’s always launching new lines of products to suit the consumers’ tastes. San Carlo has also introduced innovative production technologies, to obtain light, crispy and gluten-free potato chips.

As one observer put it: “Italians used to be rubbish at producing their own crisps. When I lived in Italy in the late 1980's and early 1990's all crisps were ready salted or paprika flavour.” Last year in Italy potato chips alone provided a turnover of about 300 million euros; their consumption is constantly rising (+5,6% compared to 2016), thanks to a varied and captivating offer: new flavors and variants, new formats enrich the shelves of supermarkets and make this product more and more attractive to the consumer. “The segment with the biggest growth – underlines San Carlo – is that of French fries.owe. On any given night you'll find plenty of City or United players hanging out there with recent arrivals Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba already big fans. Obviously any one of San Carlo’s venues can be enjoyed at any time, but those with a poetic soul who fancy the chance to experience a similar diet to their favourite Shakespearean character, have until Sunday 9th October to head towards San Carlo Bottega in Selfridges to fully immerse themselves at the point where food meets culture. While the prices aren't over the top the clientele obviously see San Carlo's as a place to come and celebrate something (United help their title celebration party here in 2009.) Flutes of Champagne were popping up at tables all around me. But is it any good? Or is it all just style over substance? We headed along for a spot of lunch to find out...

So a humble nettle risotto, peasant food, is given a showcase in the new summer menu and beetroot ravioli are given equal billing – a quite ravishing dish, sprinkled with poppy seeds, not a million miles away from Polish pierogi. So far so good, as setting aside the hoary old Scottish food gags about Haggis; Deep-Fried Mars Bars and…er…deep-fried anything in fact, Scottish food can be incredibly fine: the world’s best salmon and game; Angus beef; and, yes, even Haggis.Favourite dishes of the tasting, though, was Prosciutto-like cured lamb sliced thin and served with mint, tomatoes and pistachios.