AN AWARD-WINNING Italian chef has become a chum of pampered dogs everywhere by devising cordon bleu “canine recipes”.

Bruno Barbieri, of the Michelin-starred Arquade restaurant at the Villa del Quar, a 16th-century hotel at Pedemonte, near Verona, said the recipes were so good that you could share them with your dog. “You eat them at the table, he eats them from his bowl.”

Signor Barbieri, 44, who honed his culinary skills on cruise ships before moving to the hotel amid the vineyards of Valpolicella, has created 51 “sophisticated recipes for dogs and their owners”. He said he his own dog, a schnauzer named Alima, had enjoyed them all.

There are recipes “for seasonal freshness and variation” with special dishes for Christmas and birthdays, human or canine. They are in a book Mangiare da Cani (Eat Like a Dog), edited by Renzo Chiesa, a photographer, and Mario D’Adda, an advertising executive — both dog lovers.

They admitted that some critics would find a recipe book for dogs distasteful in a world where many people went hungry. Gad Lerner, a television journalist who owns a dachshund called Joe and a mongrel called Jay, told Panorama magazine: “Dogs should be dogs and eat dog food or leftovers. You cannot treat animals as if they were human beings.” But Signor Chiesa, who owns an alsatian called Sally, said the idea stemmed from a deep respect for food and for animals.

“In fact we prefer the term dog friend to dog owner. Some people pamper their dogs but tend to buy them expensive titbits without asking themselves whether they are good for the animal”.

Signor Barbieri said he advised always using fresh ingredients. Herbs were suitable for dogs, apart from bay leaves and parsley, but celery, mushrooms, onions, salt and spices were out. Giuseppe Rovere, a veterinary surgeon who advised the authors (and owns a mongrel called Pepe) said: “Salt doesn’t make food more appetising for dogs, it gives them high blood pressure.”

He said that liver was good for dogs, as was cheese, which many dogs adored. Owners should watch fat levels, however, since they should not let their dogs put on too much weight. Puddings and desserts should be avoided. “A piece of apple makes a dog just as happy. In any case food is not the only gratification — if you want to give your dog pleasure, play a game with him or take him for a walk.”

Although there are said to be seven million dogs in Italy, the Italians are not noted pet lovers: last year a new Rome city bylaw aimed at protecting domestic animals obliged dog owners to take their pets for a daily walk or risk a fine of between €50 (£35) and €500. The regulation also banned keeping goldfish in bowls and the docking of pets’ tails and ears.

QUAILS EGGS, POLENTA, AND MARINATED BEEF ON WILD SALAD LEAVES

Polenta, filet of beef, quails eggs, wild salad leaves, lemon zest, olive oil, rosemary, sage leaves

Place polenta cubes on salad leaves and arrange eggs and beef strips, dress with a little of marinade oil with a touch of grated lemon zest

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