This post was going to be arrivederci Bologna, hello London. I had been thinking about what kinds of markets and specialty shops I would find near our London apartment and what ethnic food I might find in our neighbourhood. Instead the adventure is over for now and I am in lockdown in Wellington but not … Continue reading Arrivederci Bologna
As you may know, we left Bologna a little earlier than planned and in some haste. I had written this blog but not published it. As it turned out, the last meal I cooked in our Italian kitchen was my favourite – risotto. I can’t leave Italy without saying something about risotto, even though it … Continue reading Risotto
The most beloved pasta of Bologna is tortellini in brodo. I have explained in an earlier post the difference between this and tortelloni. I recently learned to make both of these and tagliatelle, which is the pasta usually eaten with ragù alla Bolognese, at the laboratorio of Bruno e Franco. This is one of my … Continue reading Sfoglia
It’s probably time to talk pasta. Pasta is the most important food in Italy and Bologna is no exception. Most Italians eat pasta every day either at lunch or dinner, or both. Each region has its specialities. In Wellington the pasta section in the supermarket is one or two bays in an aisle. In Bologna … Continue reading Pasta
In our Italian kitchen we are eating sausage, pasta, rice, and lots of vegetables. The market has such an amazing range of fresh seasonal vegetables that it is easy to get carried away. It is easy to buy only vegetables produced in Italy, mostly from the south it is true, but they haven’t travelled far. … Continue reading Verdure
New Year in Italy involves fireworks and lentils. Fireworks I suspect because they are rumoroso and lentils because they resemble small coins and will bring good fortune to the home. We celebrated with friends over a meal of lentils, sausage, radicchio with grapes and creamy rainbow chard. I think you will want to make these … Continue reading Il anno nuovo
I have really enjoyed the festive season in Europe. As the days grow shorter and darker and colder, Europe turns on the twinkly lights and the celebrations begin. While Christmas is celebrated on the 25th December and New Year on the first of January, each city has its different customs, characters and foods symbolising the … Continue reading Le festività
Napoli is the capital of Campania in southern Italy, and sits on the Bay of Naples. We decided to take a long weekend to visit the city of Napoli as well as nearby Pompei and Ercolano which were destroyed by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 CE. We stayed in a bed and breakfast … Continue reading Napoli – home of pizza …and friarielli
In our apartment, we have an excellent if compact kitchen. We tend to prepare Italian food because with a few exceptions we can only buy Italian ingredients. However, I am not sure I will ever completely master cooking or eating like an Italian. The Italian day starts with calazione around 7.30. This is usually just … Continue reading Eating like an Italian
On Saturday we went on a 1/2 day food tour of Bologna which was a gift from my work colleagues when I left home. Thanks team. This has been a highlight of my travels to date. There were seven of us on the tour so it was a friendly group just strolling and chatting and … Continue reading Delicious Bologna
Around the Table 