Having narrowly avoided a minor car ‘incident’ today I just wanted to say a quick word about the Italian roundabout! You probably already assume – and why not – that a roundabout, as the name implies, is for driving ‘around’ with the idea of keeping traffic flowing fluidly and thereby easing congestion. However in Italy,…… Continue reading VERGING ON PIZZA: Edible Wildflower ‘Pizzas’
Tag: light
SLIGHTLY TROPICAL ZUCCHINI FLOWERS
We could be in the tropics at the moment with heat that rises to 35 degrees during the day followed swiftly by a monsoon-style storm at night….and I’ve even noticed some ominous bites appearing on exposed flesh early evening. That was understandable whilst we were weekending on the Italian coast but very strange to have…… Continue reading SLIGHTLY TROPICAL ZUCCHINI FLOWERS
FESTIVE ‘NO-PASTA’ TORTELLI with JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE & PUMPKIN
Twelve days ‘til Christmas and it’s just been snowing in the mountains. A clear starry night now beckons us outside promising roasted chestnuts, a glowing fire and a steaming glass of vin brulè mulled with warm spices! We’re celebrating! Tomorrow is December 13th an important date here because it heralds ‘La Festa di Santa Lucia’…… Continue reading FESTIVE ‘NO-PASTA’ TORTELLI with JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE & PUMPKIN
AUTUMN IN THE LANGHE: WHITE-TRUFFLE SCENTED POPCORN
Yes, truffle season has just started in the Langhe, Piemonte!….and the air in Alba is perfumed with bewitching wafts of this earthy fungus. Truffles might look like small wrinkled old potatoes but these buried treasures are not called ‘White Gold’ for nothing. Alba white truffles fetch the highest prices when they are finally auctioned in…… Continue reading AUTUMN IN THE LANGHE: WHITE-TRUFFLE SCENTED POPCORN
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
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 