16/01/2026
La Scala Deli - the indie Italian deli & cafe that transforms on selected evenings into the most welcoming ‘wine bar come trattoria’ 🍷🍽️ (Ad) Mr E.E and I were lucky enough to go along for a rare date night to their Umbrian ‘Wine & Dine’ event, featuring five courses and six wines 😋
Xavier, host for the evening and owner of this fabulous establishment, originally hails from Rome but has a wealth of knowledge regarding wine and produce from across Italy 🇮🇹 Which he puts to good use as his typical Italian charm really added to the event, taking us through each element of the menu inc the stories behind each dish, wine tasting notes and details about the production ❤️
As Italian food fans, we thoroughly enjoyed each dish, all of which showcased the regions specialities (including truffles and pork products from Norcia). It’s worth mentioning that where possible La Scala does use local produce to minimise food miles, however the sausage in the pasta dish was imported for a truly authentic flavour.
My highlights were the antipasti mushrooms with focaccia - who knew something so simple could be so delicious?! - and the Pasta alla Norcina (there’s a reason Norcia is legendary for its butchery), but I couldn’t find fault with any dish. Wine wise I really enjoyed the Bardolino, which had hints of cherry and strawberry, a lighter red that felt more like a white and didn’t give me a headache!
The 5 courses and 6 glasses are £95 per person, with the option of adding a cheese course for an additional supplement and the evening lasting from 6.30pm til approx 10pm. All guests attending were given a gift box to take home (a lovely touch) and the regional menu changes every two months. That means your last chance to sample this menu is Dec 13th, before Lombardia takes over in Jan and Feb. A lovely idea to celebrate a special occasion 🥂🍝
If you think ‘eating is cheating’, there are a variety of wine tastings coming up including an epic ten wine taster on Dec 19th to celebrate La Scala’s 3rd year in business 🥳 These are priced at £45, though the bday edition is £50.
A ticket for one of these events would be a lovely Xmas gift, tag someone you’d like to go with! 🎁
