If you have ever been to Istanbul (and if you haven’t you should put it on your bucket list) you will know of the wonderful fish sandwiches you can pick up at numerous places along the Bosphorus. I have to have at least one when I am there, even...
Fortunately we are blessed with access to fresh fish daily and so fish has become a key part of the week’s menu planning. Whilst I am happy to cook fish simply when it is so fresh, a little variety is also a bonus and this dish which sees...
When you first turn into Via dei Piatti in Milan, it is difficult to believe that one of these rather characterless post-war buildings actually contains a real gem of Renaissance architecture, which has been attributed to Donato Bramante (1444-1514). At 4, Via dei Piatti you will find a fine...
Here is a perfect light meal for a warm day which just talks Mediterranean to me. The caramelised chicken skewers are beautifully complimented by the parma ham while the juicy melon combination adds a sweet freshness. The toasted sourdough provides the crunch along with the pine nuts and the...
I have a recipe file of dishes that I call my very ‘special occasion’ dishes and this is one of them. I first had a version of this dish in Venice and have never forgotten how wonderful it was. Yes, it was a ‘special occasion’ but the dish transcends any particular...
While I am on the subject of lentils, here is a recipe which I came across sometime ago, when I was looking for a red lentil dish to serve to vegetarians who were joining a group for dinner. It was a Middle Eastern/Mediterranean themed dinner and I was looking...
I recently wrote a piece on the wonderful Castelluccio lentils from Umbria and here is a recipe which really shows them off in all their gastronomic glory. This makes a great salad to accompany grilled chicken or fish but it is also a meal in itself and is a...
When the weather starts to warm up I look around for pasta dishes that fulfil my love of pasta whilst still being fresh, light and above all, colourful. This is one of those dishes and although it has a white wine and cream sauce, this is by no means...
Sculptured above the Porte Juive in the Cathedral of Saint-Siffrein, Carpentras is a strange ball with a dozen rats running over it. Taking the place of two earlier buildings (7th and 12th centuries), the cathedral was begun in 1405 under the Avignon papacy of Benoît XIII (Pedro de Luna),...
This is a wonderful recipe for a delectable and divine Greek culinary tradition and whilst I have made several different versions over the years, this is by far the best I have found and comes from Maria Benardis. I always have heaps of compliments when it is served...
Welcome to my love affair with the food, wine, history and culture of the Mediterranean, past and present. Here you will find not only recipes, drinks and fabulous products, but the history of the food and culture of the Mediterranean.
My purpose is to get you to explore and experience new tastes and along the way to immerse yourself in the wonderful history of this diverse and wonderful region – from Venice to Istanbul, Rome to Dubrovnik, Athens to Crete and all places in between and in the surrounds. Be prepared to be surprised, delighted and enthralled as you take this trip with me.
