At 43 degrees north, 650 meters above sea-level, and almost perfectly halfway between the two Italian coasts, Caprese Michelangelo enjoys four, very distinct seasons. So, after one of the hottest summers on record, we are now halfway through autumn and preparing for, perhaps, two weeks of forced hibernation, when the snows come in January.
Winter warmer 1: Tuscan sausage, brussels sprouts, and walnuts Read More »
One of the things I miss most from my travels in the USA is the gourmet burger. And they are quite difficult to knock up at home. Here in mainland Europe, it’s impossible to find good burger buns. The ones sold in the shops here are weird, dry, flaky things that fall to pieces the
Burger Toscana: Tuscany Burger (recipe) Read More »
For every zucchini grown, there is a beautiful saffron flower. Unfortunately in many countries this is allowed to die and never gets seen: in Italy, they are picked and eaten as a delicacy in themselves.
Torta ai fiori di zucca: zucchini flower quiche (recipe) Read More »
Caprese, as in Caprese Michelangelo (the name of my village) means ‘of the goats’. The village coat of arms contains a goat, and indeed legend has it that after his birth here in the castle, Michelangelo was left by his father, to be raised by the wife of a goat herd, before taking him off
Torta Caprese: goat’s cheese, egg plant, and tomato tartlet Read More »
We all think we know Italian food. After all, there are plenty of Italian restaurants right down the road, right? Many of our big cities have got a ‘Little Italy’ and an Italian deli to die for. Travelling will tell us that Italian restaurants are the same the world over—except, that is, in Italy. Many
Five things you didn’t know about Italian food … probably. Read More »
The queue outside the butcher’s in Sansepolcro never seems longer than when he has a simple sign in the window: Porchetta oggi! Roast pork today! For Italians porchetta means party. In Tuscany at least, a village fête, market, or other festive gathering is incomplete without the porchetta van. These catering trucks have whole spit-roast pigs,
Porchetta oggi! Roast pork today! Read More »
