Katie Caldesi and Giancarlo Caldesi

Chefs, writers and restaurant-owners Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi present the menu for this year’s closing dinner based on their new book Sicily: Recipes from an Italian Island.

Guests will enjoy a Prosecco reception followed by a three-course meal and wines and coffee. The reception is at 8pm, and the dinner ticket also includes admission to a short talk on the book that the Caldesis will give at 7.30pm.

The Caldesis have immersed themselves in the diverse food scene of Sicily, which has its origins in the food of Italy, Greece, Spain, France and the Arab world. The result is Sicily: Recipes from an Italian Island, a book that captures the exotic flavours of the local food. Recipes featured include Arancini (rice balls stuffed with meat sauce and cheese); Sfincione, a thick Sicilian pizza, topped with tomatoes, onions, anchovies and casciocavallo cheese; almond granita (served with fresh brioche, for dunking); and pasta alla norma (pasta with tomatoes and eggplants.

The Caldesis own London’s Caffé Caldesi, Caldesi in Campagna in Bray and the Marylebone La Cucina Caldesi cooking school. They are also authors of cookery books on the Amalfi Coast, Rome and Venice.

Dinner guests have access to special rates for an overnight stay and breakfast at the Eynsham Hall country house hotel and conference centre, a Jacobean-style mansion set in 3,000 acres of parkland six miles from Blenheim Palace. To book the special rates (between £70 and £117.50 depending on accommodation), guests should call 01993 885200 or email stay@eynshamhall.com and quote ‘Blenheim literary festival dinner’.

Festival closing dinner sponsored by Eynsham Hall.