Casa Rossa is an Italian eatery hidden in the foothills of Zomba Mountain, Malawi. It’s a spot that has been around for over a decade, but this trip home was the first I heard of it, and boy was I disappointed… that I hadn’t heard of it earlier. Casa Rossa is blanketed by green all around and offers customers a comfortable and affordable place to spend a couple of days. Visitors have the option of staying in either one of the three rooms available, or people can choose to camp at a fraction of the price. Both options come with breakfast, although choosing a room will give you a little extra with the options.

Casa Rossa boasts a wide variety of Italian dishes for both vegetarians and nonvegetarians. The first dish that I set out on was a beautiful starter of toasted bread and semi-fried aubergine doused in what I assume was olive oil. It was the first time I’d tried something of the sort, I really wish I could have asked for the recipe because it has to be one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted. A light presence in terms of how filling it was, but a lingering aura when it came to taste; the perfect appetizer in my opinion.

My next venture was the classic Alla Bolognese with Tagliatelle or Fettuccine, I’ll let you guys argue over which one it is. There usually isn’t much to say about this internationally loved dish, Cassa Rossa however made sure I did have something to say. The pasta itself was some of the best I have ever tasted including those in Ottawa. It was very soft, yet had that critical snap to it on each bite, indicating just how fresh it was. The meat was very well cooked and remained soft, avoiding the chewy feeling you often get when minced meat is overcooked. Finally, the tomato itself gave it the perfect tangy balance and allowed us to get a taste of each part of the meal equally, without the overpowering taste that gets me to usually stay away from the tomato-based dishes in Italian cuisine.

The next dishes were a couple of fresh pizzas made with their in-house dough. The first pizza went by the name “Rustica”, and it was something I hadn’t tried before. It played host to a tomato-based dough with chicken and cheese, the new addition being potato as a topping. I’m still a bit indecisive on if I would order the Rustica for myself on my next visit. The next pizza was a Soupa Diavola. This was more my speed, because of the spice that cuts through it. The pizza was topped with pepperoni, green peppers, cheese, and chili flakes. Both pizzas were freshly made, the smokey taste and the few charred bits that came through added just another dimension to every bite you took. The dough was light and airy, so didn’t just sit in your stomach once you ate it. Again, the tomato base didn’t overpower any of the other ingredients, allowing the spice of the pizza to be the star of the show.

Casa Rossa, like many of Malawi’s other hidden gems, is exactly what someone would need when wanting to escape city life. The sounds of nature and wind through the trees all around offer you just the downtime you didn’t know you needed. Visiting this joint and speaking to the owner was definitely one of my highlights while on my trip back to Malawi, so if you’re in the country at any point, be sure to visit this branch of Italy known as Casa Rossa.