Italian Valentines

Explore the traditions of Italian Valentines as we steadily approach the upcoming celebration of love

Valentine's Day, known as "San Valentino" in Italian, is celebrated in Italy with various traditions and customs similar to those in many other countries, as well as some unique to Italian culture. Here are some Italian Valentine's Day traditions

Valentine’s Day in Italy was historically celebrated as a Spring Festival. They will celebrate the advent of spring together by spending time outdoors, strolling in parks, sitting under trees or in beautiful gardens, and listening to music or talking.

TRADITIONS FOR Couples

Contemporary Italian couples may present each other with small, chocolate-covered hazelnut candies by Perugina, which are filled with a sweet cherry liquid center. The inside wrapper of Perguina Baci candies boast romantic poetry.

Italian couples also follow the tradition of padlocking their love to a bridge or railing, and throwing the key away.

In Verona, Italy – known as the city of Romeo and Juliet – there is a four-day Valentine’s celebration, with heart lanterns lining the city and free concerts in the Piazza dei Signori. There is also a love-letter writing contest and romantic dinner specials in restaurants around town

TRADITIONS FOR SINGLES

For young, single girls in Italy in the past, it was believed that the first man they saw on Valentine’s Day would be the man they married – or at least a man who looked like him! As such, young girls would wake up early and look out their window at men who walked by

Abruzzio regional menu

This month’s regional menu is here, From 23rd to the 29th October we are celebrating Abruzzo with a special menu. Click below to read more:

Retail section has been refreshed

We like to keep our retail goods constantly cycling so we always have new and great quality products available on our shelves, we have recently added new products to our shelves, including some of the special wines from the Autumn menu, Savoiardi Mammafiore biscuits, and homemade chilli oil. So come to Canada Water Cafe and have a look for yourself.

Specials

We now have specials more frequently! Each day we will list a few specials on our newly installed Specials blackboard. Specials are temporary items off-menu that are decided based on what fresh ingredients we have in, good deals on produce and seasonal recipes. Keep an eye out to see if there is anything extra special you can indulge in as a change to your usual order. Carpe diem!

Autumn Menu

The new Autumn Menu is here! Here are some of the delicious new additions to the menu:

Gnocchi con radicchio, Gorgonzola & Noci (homemade potato gnocchi with Raducanu, Gorgonzola and walnuts)

Ravioli di ricotta e zucca (homemade ravioli with pumpkin & ricotta served with a butter, sage sauce & amaretto crumble)

Carpaccio di rapa rossa con caprino (beetroot carpaccio with rocket pan fried goat cheese)

Guancia di manzo con puree di patate allo zafferano (braised ox cheek served with saffron mash potatoes)

Platessa alla griglia con patate dolci arrosto (grilled plaice roasted sweet potatoes & salmoriglio dressing)

Panna cotta with raspberry sauce

Cannolo Siciliano (a ricotta, chocolate & pistachio filling)

Al cinghiale (homemade pappardelle with wild boar ragù)

Bruschetta Autunnale (mixed mushrooms, Tellegio, chilli and garlic)

Ravioli di ricotta e rape rossa (home made ravioli, filled with ricotta, red beetroot and served with salted butter, poppy seeds and red amaranth)

Christmas Opening Hours

Please note that we will be closed from December 22 until December 27, 2018. We will reopen as normal on December 28.

Menu updates

For November Head Chef Michele and his team have made some exciting updates to our menu in order to introduce some great seasonal products and ensure we have some winter warming dishes to help you face the cold. Why not try our vegetarian bruschetta with Portobello mushrooms? Or our Pizza Tonnato with tuna, sweetcorn and juicy cherry tomatoes? Headlining our pasta and rice section, we are now serving a warming saffron risotto with gorgonzola. Pop in and ask the staff for more details if you fancy trying any of our new dishes.

Canada Water Cafe commended in Southwark Business Excellence Awards

We were delighted to have been shortlisted for "Best business for hospitality and food excellence" in the hotly contested Southwark Business Excellence Awards and even more delighted to get commended on the night! The Canada Water Cafe team had a fantastic evening celebrating the awards in the Hilton Bankside.