I love Italian dishes. I’ve been a fan since I first saw a polpette bouncing precariously off a pile of dripping, wet spaghetti 14 years ago. But enough about Italian footballers and their long, greasy hair, we’re talking snacks here, and today we have an “Italian fine pastry”.

The plastic packaging looks cheap. Had I not have reviewed this before, I’d give it a pass. But because I have, and positively so, I’m curious to see whether the outer covering has any correlation with the taste of the product inside. Oh, look, “Registered lid ensures quality” it says on the front of the pack. What is this “registered lid”? I wondered.

Answer: A covered plastic tray. The tray prevents people like me, from crushing the pastry to test its crunchiness. I know, I’m annoyed with people like myself too. Anyway, let’s open it. Ah, an inviting buttery aroma.

The stick is evenly browned with a soft dusting of sugar. Look at the beautifully shiny top and layers of buttery flake. Let’s not think about calories for a moment. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this pound of fatty goodness.

Mmmm… The puff is so meltingly crumbly my lap now is covered with pastry flecks. Interlaced within the airy slivers is a rich taste of creamy butter. The balance of sweetness with the mildly salty base is spot on. If there was ever love at first bite, this is it. What’s the serving size, I wonder? Wait a minute, they’ve left it out! How can they do this? How do I know when to stop?

No matter, even if they had put a recommended serving size, I would most definitely eat triple the amount, as I’m now on my seventh piece and still going strong. So, so very good. Congratulations, Vicenzi, you’ve done Italy proud.

Photo: Vicenzi Biscotti

Buttery, flaky and sweet - better than watching Italian football.

I had my dinner, my tummy was full but I was longing for something sweet to end the night. I eyed a masculine-looking dark orange box with gold-foil lettering in my snack drawer. Chocolate sticks? Sounded like the perfect after-dinner treat.

The sticks were very slender in size, about 10cm long and 0.7cm wide (I’d expected it to be slightly bigger. Nevertheless, it’s a good size for nibbling). The swirly texture running through the length was a nice touch. What about the taste?

The taste was pleasant, if slightly forgettable at first, perhaps due to its tiny size. Only after three sticks would you get a proper feel of the product. The orange flavour was zesty and nicely balanced with the milk chocolate, which was not too sweet. There were tiny, crunchy bits that added texture to an otherwise plain affair (remember this is an orange-flavoured, not orange–filled, chocolate stick).

I stopped at five sticks (half a serving) to see if I’d crave for more. I kept the box in the fridge, made myself a cup of tea and switched the TV on. In the middle of watching The Queen (the film starring Helen Mirren), I’m thinking of thin, orange-flavoured chocolate sticks again and I’m not even hungry to start with.

Perhaps due to its small size I needed more to satisfy my sweet craving. Perhaps, I was just giving excuses. Just one more wouldn’t hurt, I thought. And then I ate 7.

Photo: P.T. Ceres

Starts off unremarkable, and then you find yourself wanting more.

Watch out for it!