This summer, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and pioneering chef and author Ixta Belfrage invite food and travel lovers on a once-in-a-lifetime culinary adventure. Ixta’s ‘Journey Through Italy’ menu showcases recipes inspired by her most memorable travels, reimagining classic Italian dishes with her own creative twists.
Inspired by Belfrage’s childhood in Tuscany and her extensive travels across the country, the ‘Journey Through Italy’ menu brings five unforgettable Italian destinations to life through an exclusive series of dishes some of which can be achieved by hiring a London private chef – each perfectly paired with Peroni Nastro Azzurro.
The collaboration comes as Peroni Nastro Azzurro launches a national competition with Secret Escapes this summer, offering travellers the ultimate Italian prize – one of five incredible luxury trips to the locations featured in Belfrage’s menu: Tuscany, Venice, Rome, Sardinia, and Capri.
Food and travel enthusiasts can embark on this culinary journey at an exclusive two-night pop-up dinner on 24th and 25th June at London’s Carousel, hosted by Ixta.
Belfrage, who began her career as Ottolenghi’s protégée before rising to fame through her exciting and experimental cooking, grew up in Tuscany and has travelled the country extensively. Her travels have inspired five exquisite courses for the menu, with diners able to sample dishes including Porcini & Habanero Lasagne inspired by her time in Tuscany, Melon and Buffalo Mozzarella Insalata Caprese from Capri, a selection of Cicchetti from Venice, Fregola & Scotch Bonnet Vongole from Sardinia, and Ricotta & Sour Cherry Crostata from Rome – each paired perfectly with a crisp Peroni Nastro Azzurro. All dishes are inspired by Italian classics, with an Ixta twist.
The recipes and stories are also being made available for free digitally, so hungry fans can immerse themselves in Italian food and travel this summer from the comfort of their own kitchens.
The ‘Journey Through Italy’ menu comes as new research commissioned by Peroni Nastro Azzurro reveals that food and drink spark Brits’ most vivid holiday memories (38%), more than excursions (32%), weather (30%, or local culture (28%), with 72% saying taste and smell evoke their strongest holiday memories—a figure that rises to 81% among 25–44-year-olds. This aligns with the 2025 ‘nostalgia travel’ trend, where people are drawn to destinations with personal significance.
Italy, famed for its culinary heritage, leads as the country most associated with great food (37%) and is the most memorable holiday spot for one in six Brits (16%). Among the five Italian destinations featured in the campaign, Rome stands out as the top food city (35%), especially among Gen Z (50%).
Food and drink are clearly at the heart of memorable travels, with over three-quarters (76%) saying both are essential to enjoying a holiday, while two-thirds (62%) feel culinary experiences abroad influence their eating habits at home—particularly millennials (83%). Nearly half of UK travellers (49%) try new dishes while abroad, with 40% of 25–34-year-olds packing their suitcases with food and drink as souvenirs.
Belfrage says of her ‘Journey Through Italy’ menu: “My childhood in Tuscany and travels through Italy have shaped who I am today, so when Peroni Nastro Azzurro invited me to create a menu around these journeys, it was an incredible opportunity to revisit some of the places and dishes which have inspired me and put my own twist on them. I have enjoyed many meals accompanied by a crisp Peroni Nastro Azzurro and my menu reflects some of these memorable moments – I can’t wait for people to enjoy them!”
Rob Hobart, Marketing Director at Peroni Nastro Azzurro, comments:“Peroni Nastro Azzurro has long been enjoyed as the ideal accompaniment to exquisite Italian cuisine, creating unforgettable memories of travels through Italy. We are delighted to team up with one of the UK’s most exciting chefs who is pushing the boundaries of Italian cuisine, to highlight the power food, drink and travel has on memory, and how it can transport diners to golden Italian days, right here in the UK”.
Italian food and travel lovers can sign up for free tickets to the 24th and 25thJune pop-up events with tickets going live at 9am on Thursday 29th May on Eventbrite here.
