According to legend, zuccotto is the first semifreddo in the history of cooking and was originally made in an infantryman’s studded helmt. In the Tuscan dialect zucca means ‘head’. It was originally prepared with ricotta, glacé (candied) fruit, almonds and dark (semisweet) chocolate. I love this dessert – it is quick and...
Here is one of my favourite dishes from Tuscany, the cookbook I shared with you on my blog. This recipe comes from the province of Lucca. This is such a wonderful soup to share with friends (this recipe will serve 6) – just add some Tuscan bread or ciabatta and...
Today I shared with you Miguel Maestre’s wonderful Spanish cookbook Spanish Cooking and his recipe for King Prawn in jamon with romesco coulis (Caballitos con salsa romesco) which is one of my favourites from this book. Here is a mouthwatering superb puff pastry treat from the same book – Creme quemada...
George Bernard Shaw summed up the ethereal charm of the Kornati Islands best when he first sighted them: “On the last day of the Creation God desired to crown his work, and thus created the Kornati Islands, out of tears, stars and breath.” This lofty praise is well deserved...
Two of the most famous Greek wines have been produced on the North Aegean island of Samos and Limnos since antiquity. Samos has one of the best-known vineyard areas in Greece. The 3700 acre (1500 hectare) area of cultivation produces one of the best Muscat wines in the world....
Recently I did a review of Maggie Beer’s Verjuice Cookbook. If you haven’t yet started cooking with verjuice, then do yourself a much deserved favour and start to do so. As I have previously mentioned, Maggie Beer is a wonderful South Australian and Australian food icon and has her...
Here is the recipe for one of my favourite entertaining dishes from Miguel Maestro’s Spanish Cooking cookbook – Caballitos con salsa romesco – King Prawn in jamon with romesco coulis. As Miguel says, this is a fun way to eat prawns on the barbecue, with “minimal effort and great results”. Make plenty...
The Hospices in Beaune, the Burgundian capital of wine, is one of the most beautiful structural examples of French medieval artistry. Work on this building began in 1443, on the orders of Nicolas Rolin, the Chancellor of Philip the Good. From 1452 onward, the poor and sick of the...
Whilst this is actually a recipe for a Brazilian passionfruit cake, Bolo de Maracujá, and so doesn’t fit into the Mediterranean theme of the blog, it is so wonderful that I had to share it with you. This is rich in passionfruit and so it decidedly sweet, but I...
(Portrait by Tintoretto, c,1575) Veronica Franco (1580-1625) was a poet famous in her own time who made her living as a courtesan. she received her training from her mother, who was also a courtesan until she married. The Franco family was of relatively high birth for Venice, coming...
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.
