Risi e Bisi Recipe with Andrea Orchard of Annie’s Kitchen

 

Take us back to Italy. A lesson in Venetian cuisine with Andrea Orchard of Annie’s Kitchen

Risi e Bisi Recipe | Austin’s Chef at Home Series | Andrea Orchard of Annie’s Kitchen

Missing travelling?  Wish you could be touring the ancient towns of Europe?  This week we have Andrea Orchard of Annie’s Kitchen taking us on a virtual walk, through the streets of Italy as she cooks the traditional dish of Risi ‘e’ Bisi inspired by her Italian heritage and family in the Veneto region in Italy.  Home of the beautiful canals of Venice and the 8th most populated region in Italy.  Veneto stretches all the way from its border in the alps of Austria down to the Adriatic sea.

Notably, the Venetian region is renowned as one of the most important wine-growing regions in Italy, producing more D.O.C Wines than anywhere else in the country.  Trieste is also a grower of Prosecco, one of our go-to wines on a hot Summer’s day.  

Andrea Orchard is a stalwart of the hospitality industry in Victoria.  Following the breakdown of her marriage and having to support her two gorgeous children Annie decided to relocate from Melbourne to the sleepy beachside town of Barwon Heads.

The people of Barwon Heads were soon to be greeted with a lovely little Italian-influenced cafe called Annie’s Provedore.  Annie had decided to draw on her many years of hospitality experience along with her Italian roots with this cafe. 

Not only was there a delicious array of local and imported produce including San Daniele prosciutto, stunning cheeses and freshly cooked Italian-influenced meals, Annie was also providing the locals and many holidaymakers with a great selection of wines including ours.

Soon Annie’s Provedore had garnered such a following that it only seemed natural to progress into catering.  Having secured the space above Annie’s Provedore, the construction of a beautiful new commercial kitchen saw the beginning of Annie’s Kitchen – Catering and Events in 2015.

With both businesses running successfully and a great team of dedicated staff behind her Annie decided that now was the time to return to the place that sparked her passion for food and particularly Italy back when she was just an 8-year-old girl. Annie had returned to Veneto and following many a red wine fuelled discussion with her cousin Fillipo came the inception of ‘Annie’s Italy’.  An opportunity for Annie’s friends and clientele to come and explore the beautiful Veneto region and its many great artisan food producers through the eyes of Annie and her Italian family.

Annie has been a friend and supporter of Austins Wines for many years now and we are so happy to present her pairing this week of a traditional dish from the Veneto region of Risi ‘e’ Bisi paired with our delightful Austins Riesling.

The ingredients used in this recipe can be readily purchased however if you are ever in Barwon Heads, do be sure to pop into Annie’s Provedore for a coffee, wood-fired pizza, deli goods from Annie’s hometown and beyond or a great bottle of wine.

Andrea Orchard – Annies Kitchen –

Risi ‘e’ Bisi Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 shallots
• 1 rash of bacon
• ½ cup of peas(frozen or fresh)
• 1 cup of vialone nano rice
• 11/2 litres of vegetable or chicken stock
• Parmesan
• Butter

Utensils Needed

• Chopping board
• Knife
• Saucepan
• Ladle
• Wooden spoon

Method

1. Dice onion and bacon and sauté till soft.
2. Add peas and rice and cook slightly until you hear rice crackling.
3. Add a ladle of hot stock and stir until absorbed slightly then add remainder of stock and simmer for 15-20 minutes stirring only occasionally until rice is cooked but firm to the bite .
4. Finish off by stirring through a knob of butter and parmesan to taste. Consistency should be almost soup-like.

Buon apetitio!!

Find out more about Annie’s Kitchen and Annie’s Provedore