Located between bars, coffee shops and restaurants in the vibrant Naviglio neighbourhood Macelleria Masseroni is a little butcher, probably one of the best in Milan. Looking for quality meat, excellent ‘salumi e formaggi’, organic eggs, a little selection of artisanal wines, hand-made pasta and other delicatessen (some of them sourced carefully from Spain and France)? Masseroni is the place to go.

And not only that, during lunchtime or to take home, there is a little menu of original dishes and snacks, always freshly prepared using the best ingredients: black pork ribs cooked sous-vide (at low temperature) with honey or maple syrup, baccala, ossobucco, caponata siciliana, savoury pies and vegetarian lasagna to break up the meat monotony. There is something for every taste.

Additionally, Masseroni is the only place in Milan to buy original Japanese Wagyu beef, the ‘meat caviar’ for foodies. Even the Italian Slow Food branch awarded some of the products, e.g. the grey Carmagnola rabbit.

The philosophy of Masseroni is to produce, source and sell products that help modern urbanites rediscover almost forgotten tastes from the most remote Italian areas. And it’s not just trite words on their website, this is what they delivered whenever I wanted to treat myself to some really special food.

Last but not least, for non-Italians going back home for the Christmas holidays Masseroni is the one-stop-shop to get super-special presents for friends and family, something not to be found out of Italy. My parents fell completely in love with their products.