Posts Tagged “Italy”
Tradition with Italian flair. The story starts in Rome. in 1893 two young ladies from England came to visit. Isabel Cargill came from a good family. She was the daughter of Captain Cargill, founder of the city of Dunedin in New Zealand. Her companion was Anna Maria Babington, descendant of that Antony Babington who was…
It’s been a strange year, but it has had the bonus of allowing us to appreciate such things as one’s garden, home-cooked meals – and wines. Italian wines are getting noticed again! Italian wines have often been overlooked and that is a shame as there are many superb bottles to explore. Massimago Profasio 2013, a…
For many years Loris Massucco has been working hard, supported by the experience of several generations of family wine makers, to create his new, innovative wines. All over the world, wine producers are constantly competing when it comes to promoting and selling their wines. What makes the difference all too often is price, at the…
If you are of a certain age then even the name ‘Lambrusco’ will likely raise a smirk. Once the smirker’s composure has been restored then he/she will probably deny ever having tasted the stuff. One has one’s oenological credibility to consider, after all! Wouldn’t be seen quaffing anything so viticulturally base! Where exactly is Lambrusco,…
If we are sent on a mission to buy a flavourful hard cheese we will likely want to buy Parmigiano Reggiano. If we are looking for parmesan cheese its possible we won’t get Parmigiano Reggiano but an inferior cheese with an Italian flag on the packaging. It’s the same issue with balsamic vinegar and even…
Balsamic vinegar, in Italian ‘aceto balsamico’, is a vinegar originating in Italy – the syrupy dark-brown condiment that one finds in Italian restaurants and gracing deli shelves. It doesn’t contain any balsam at all but the word balsamic refers to its supposed healthful qualities. It’s rather pricey, especially as, when found in your local supermarket,…
Valentina Harris is perhaps our most celebrated and prolific Italian food writer, TV presenter and chef. Yes, the lady truly is Italian, although one could be fooled into thinking she is an authentically British blue-blood. Valentina Harris doesn’t have many free moments but I cornered her on a return flight from a culinary tour of…
Anyone with a molecule of romance in their hearts will have considered a vacation in Italy. Any lover of good food and wine would have mused on a visit to this land of culinary abundance. Every traveller who prizes quality produce, striking accommodation and the best of restaurants will want to stay in Norcia. Where?…
Isn’t it a perennial problem? What to do for Valentine’s Day! When one has had the same partner for several decades one starts to run out of romantic options. You might possibly get away with socks for Christmas, but they just don’t cut the mustard for Valentines. Jewellery is predictable, and restaurants are always full…
One would think that Valentina Harris is the quintessential English lady, well-spoken with Home Counties proper accent; but there is something else. Turn the sound off and one sees the unmistakable animation of a Latin. In fact Valentina is only on nodding terms with Englishness. “Let me explain about the English voice,” says Valentina with…