‘Twite Shad’…there, I’ve said it! A few years ago I went for a weekend to Lake Como (and yes, I did see George Clooney!) where I found a restaurant offering “missoltino con crostone di polenta fritta e alborelle” or as the English translation read….”salty twite shad with polenta and bleaks”. Fabulous!…particularly as I could not…… Continue reading SALT-BAKED SARDINES with HERBED POTATO CHIPS (A Warm Summer ‘Fish & Chips’ Salad)
A ROMANTIC ITALIAN WEEKEND IN A CASTLE?
‘Oh let’s just pack and go’ we said, last Saturday morning…’let’s be spontaneous and see where we end up’. For me, born and raised in England, one of the joys of being in Europe is knowing that we don’t have to book planes or ferries, we can just climb in a car and in a…… Continue reading A ROMANTIC ITALIAN WEEKEND IN A CASTLE?
PINZIMONIO with SEAWEED SPELT FOCACCIA & LAVENDER SALT
Spring is in full swing here and as we speak I can hear the far call of the cuckoo echoing around the valley, mingling sonorously with the frenzy of bird chirpings, tweetings and general spring ‘busyness’ that is happening outside my window. Actually, come to think of it, it’s quite noisy! However there’s nothing noisy…… Continue reading PINZIMONIO with SEAWEED SPELT FOCACCIA & LAVENDER SALT
MARBLED EGGS, EDIBLE FLOWERS & RUCOLA with AN EASTER EGG-CRACKING GAME
I learnt the art of marbling paper as a bookbinder many years ago. An art apparently first used in Japan in the 12th century and called, rather eloquently, “cloud art” or “ebru”. But now this Easter I find myself marbling in a completely different way…with eggs. Marbled eggs are an oriental speciality involving gently cracking…… Continue reading MARBLED EGGS, EDIBLE FLOWERS & RUCOLA with AN EASTER EGG-CRACKING GAME
JUST A QUICKIE: PINK ASPARAGUS – & MUSIC
PINK ASPARAGUS – & MUSIC Has anyone seen Pink Asparagus? I thought they were so beautiful I’d be happy to be ‘bunched’ with them! I spotted them yesterday in the new ‘Eat Italy’ in Milano. Farinetti has done a wonderful conversion of the historic Teatro Smeraldo replacing music once played by greats such as Josephine Baker, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan,…… Continue reading JUST A QUICKIE: PINK ASPARAGUS – & MUSIC
FANCY A QUICKIE? “ITALY IN A GLASS”
TOMATO & BASIL LASSI Here’s a quick blast of Italy – so refreshing you can almost taste the sun! For 1 small glass: 1 large tomato – or 100g fresh tomatoes 100ml plain yoghurt 2 leaves fresh basil Pinch salt Blitz in a blender until smooth and frothy.
ORANGE CREPES WITH ASPARAGUS, BITTER HERBS & HORSERADISH
Forget cats and dogs…or even men…it was ‘raining’ oranges the day we joined the famous “Battaglia delle Arance” or “Battle of Oranges” that marks the end of carnival time in Ivrea, Piemonte. Along the lines of Siena’s “Palio” or the “Sagra del Torde” of Montalcino every ‘quartiere’ of the city competes to be crowned the…… Continue reading ORANGE CREPES WITH ASPARAGUS, BITTER HERBS & HORSERADISH
CABBAGE SUSHI-STYLE with HAZLENUT SPRINKLE for ST. VALENTINE’S DAY
“Cavolo!……..cavolo?!” could roughly be translated as “crikey!..…..cabbage??!” Cavolo being not only Italian for cabbage – but also a ‘cripes’, ‘good grief’, ‘holy cow’ type of expression! And indeed “crikey” what could possibly make cabbage a choice dish for a St Valentine’s Day intimate supper – even with this view of Lake Como. As far…… Continue reading CABBAGE SUSHI-STYLE with HAZLENUT SPRINKLE for ST. VALENTINE’S DAY
PRESERVED LEMON, BASIL & POMEGRANATE SEED LINGUINE
“Do you know the land where lemons bloom and grow…..” asked Goethe…..and sadly I would have to reply “not yet”…or only through enthusiastic hearsay and ‘Inspector Montalbano’ TV episodes. Sicily, Goethe’s land of lemons, still remains shrouded in expectancy for me so that now – in lemon-blossom time – I can only dream of the…… Continue reading PRESERVED LEMON, BASIL & POMEGRANATE SEED LINGUINE
EATING CLOUDS IN ITALY 