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This Italian chef makes miniature worlds out of pastry

Imagine a world made of pastry... chocolate rivers, gingerbread houses and buildings made of dough.

This Italian chef makes miniature worlds out of pastry
Photo: Matteo Strucchi/I dolci di Gulliver

That's exactly what Italian pastry chef Matteo Strucchi, 23, did.

Strucchi has been working as a pastry chef in Lecco, northern Italy, for two years, but since this summer, he's also been working on a passion project: a food photography account on Instagram which transforms his delicious desserts into a landscape for tiny people

The account, I Dolci di Gulliver, takes its name from the book Gulliver's Travels which sees an ordinary man travel to Lilliput, a nation of miniature people. Using models of people and vehicle, Strucchi creates scenes showing the people of Lilliput living in a world of pastry.

From sailing down a chocolate river to building complex desserts using trucks and cranes, Strucchi's characters have clearly captured people's imagination, and the account now boasts over 67,000 followers.

“I wanted to present my desserts differently from others,” he told The Local. “There are lots of artists who create miniatures using food, but I focus on desserts. I try to use my imagination as much as possible in order to surprise people.”

As for how he comes up with the unique ideas, Strucchi says he first focuses on making a beautiful pastry, and then tries to look at it from a new perspective. “Then, I think about how I can make my characters interact with it,” he explained.

See some of his creations below.

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Aug 6, 2016 at 11:35pm PDT

“The brownies wouldn't be complete without the nut topping, carefully chopped by my little helpers!”

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Sep 5, 2016 at 11:26pm PDT

The photographs show classic desserts from a new perspective, like these delicious profiteroles.

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Sep 22, 2016 at 11:19pm PDT

This peach tree was created to celebrate the Italian harvest season

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Oct 10, 2016 at 11:08pm PDT

“Today, there's a fishing competition in Lilliput!” said Strucchi; the Italian 'gara di pesca' is a play on words as 'pesca' is both a conjugation of 'pescare' (to fish) and the noun 'peach'.

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Oct 27, 2016 at 11:03pm PDT

“Even monsters have to take care of their hands,” Strucchi commented on this Halloween special.

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Nov 4, 2016 at 12:00am PDT

Have you ever seen such a sweet wedding ceremony?

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Nov 17, 2016 at 11:00pm PST

The people of Lilliput help Strucchi to prepare some biscuit dough.

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Oct 6, 2016 at 11:15pm PDT

A delicious fairground set up in Lilliput.

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Oct 17, 2016 at 10:57pm PDT

Strucchi and his little helpers take on the tricky Italian dessert, tiramisu.

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Sep 29, 2016 at 11:13pm PDT

If all weight-lifting was done with macarons, maybe we'd be more tempted to go to the gym…

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Sep 12, 2016 at 11:26pm PDT

Observing pastry swans in their natural habitat.

 

A photo posted by Matteo Stucchi (@idolcidigulliver) on Aug 8, 2016 at 10:11pm PDT

The tiny adventurers ascend Mount Muffin.

 

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FOOD AND DRINK

Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

As well as its most famous cocktails, Italy has a long tradition of making refreshing aperitivo drinks without the alcohol.

Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

Italy’s favourite aperitivo-hour cocktails are known far beyond the country’s borders, so their names will probably be familiar to you whether you drink them or not.

But if you’re in Italy and not drinking alcohol, you might find yourself stumped when it comes time to order your aperitivo at the bar.

The first time I found myself in this situation, there was no menu. The waiter instead rattled off a long list of all the soft drinks available, most of which I’d never heard of, and I just picked something I thought sounded nice.

Luckily it turns out that Italy has some great options for an aperitivo analcolico. As well as ‘virgin’ versions of well-known cocktails, there are bitters, sodas and other Italian-made soft drinks that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.

They might not be quite as iconic as the Aperol Spritz, but they’re as thoroughly Italian – plus, effortlessly ordering one of these will make you look like a true local.

SanBittèr

San Pellegrino’s SanBittèr is one of the most famous non-alcoholic Italian drinks of all, with its highly-recognisable red packaging, often enjoyed in place of Campari cocktails because of its similar dark, ruby-red color.

This drink is carbonated with a slightly sweet, citrus flavor. The recipe is more complex than that of an orange or lemon soda, with notes of spice and herbs, making it ideal to pair with your aperitivo-hour snacks.

Crodino

Crodino looks a lot like an Aperol Spritz with its bright orange hue, and that’s not an accident: it’s said to have been created as a non-alcoholic alternative, and the zesty, slightly herbal taste is similar. It’s typically served the same way. in a round goblet glass over ice with a slice of orange: a Crodino Spritz.

The name comes from the town of Crodo in Piedmont, where it is still bottled today by the Campari group.

Chinotto

Citrusy Chinotto is an acquired taste for many, but it’s worth trying: it’s one of the classic Italian bitters and is said to have a long history, dating back to a recipe shared by Chinese sailors arriving on the Ligurian coast in the 1500s.

It may look a little like Coca Cola, but don’t let the appearance fool you.

(Photo by Eugene Gologursky /Getty Images via AFP)

Aranciata/Limonata

Aranciata is Italy’s version of an orange soda, but not as sugary, and it tastes like oranges. Its base is sparkling water with the addition of orange juice and sugar. There are various brands, but San Pellegrino’s is the most popular. It also sells a ‘bitter’ aranciata amaro, with even less sugar, more citrus tang and herbal notes, which might be more aperitivo-hour appropriate.

Limonata is, as you might guess, the Italian answer to lemonade. Again there are many versions out there but the fizzy San Pellegrino limonata is beloved for its strong, sweet-sour flavour and there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer’s day.

Cedrata

Cedrata is one of Italy’s oldest and best-known non-alcoholic drinks. It’s a refreshing, carbonated drink made from a large citrus fruit called a cedro, grown in southern Italy. It’s far less bitter than a Chinotto, but not as sweet as limonata.

The main producer of Cedrata today is Tassoni, and this is what you’re likely to get if you order it at a bar.

Gingerino

This is harder to find than the other aperitivi on the list and is seen as decidedly retro, but it’s worth trying if you can track it down.

It’s another orange-coloured, sparkling drink which became popular in Italy in the 1970s and is still sold today, though you’re more likely to find it in the north-east, close to Venice, where it’s produced.

You may be expecting it to taste a lot like ginger beer, and there are similarities, but it has stronger citrus notes and more bitterness.

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