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In the first of a series of blogs looking at the winners of the Scottish Restaurant Awards, we have news of Cucina, winner of the Best Italian category.

In the video below, shot backstage at the awards, you can watch the Cucina team tell our presenter how chuffed they are to have scooped the award. According to the boys, their success is down to authenticity, hospitality and great ingredients.

Part of Hotel Missoni which opened in Edinburgh in 2009, the restaurant has really found its focus over the last year. The head chef is Mattia Camorani who did some of his training under Giorgio Locatelli and previously worked at Locatelli’s Reffetorio restaurant in London.

As Camorani reveals on the video, the best advice that Locatelli ever gave him was very simple: ‘Always put good food on the plate.’

Modern Italian food inspired by classic Italian dishes is what Chef Camorani aims for and he also runs a series of special regional menus. His Lombardy menu launches today. The details are listed below.

Naturally, 5pm have plenty of deals with Cucina which you can check out here. The pre-theatre with two courses at £13.50 looks a cracker.

Below is the brand new Lombardy menu. It costs £35 a head.

Lombardia

Beef bresaola with rocket salad and goats’ cheese dressing

Buck wheat flour pasta with Savoy cabbage and bitto cheese

Ossobuco with crispy saffron rice

Marsala zabaione

Sommelier’s choice

If you want to try the sommelier’s wine recommendations for each course, then you can have a glass of the following wines during each of the four courses. The cost is an additional £30.

Franciacorta Cuvee Brut, Bellavista [Docg] Lombardia NV

Franciacorta Grand Cuvee Brut Saten, Bellavista [Docg] Lombardia 2007

Franciacorta Grand Cuvee Rosé Brut, Bellavista [Docg] Lombardia 2002

Verduzzo Friulano Colli Orientali, Azienda Agricola Specogna [Doc] Friuli Venezia Giulia 2008