In the 9th Arrondissement at 6, rue Sainte-Cécile, Paris you will find a beautiful but little known church which is curiously dedicated to two saints: Saint Eugene (in honour of Napoleon III’s wife, Eugénie, who was responsible for the building of the church) and Saint Cecilia (patron saint of...
I came across this recipe for these mouthwatering Cookies when I was looking for something special to do with some traditional Turkish Delight I had been given. They truly are very moreish but the cookie mix does require chilling for 4 hours or overnight, so plan ahead. ...
Cradled in a majestic circle of Alps, the Vallée des Merveilles in the Mercantour National Park, Provence is aptly named. It is a landscape of rock-strewn valleys, jagged peaks and eerie lakes. Just west of the Lac des Mèsches is the Minière de la Vallaure, an abandoned mine quarried...
While this wonderful Italian brioche may seem like a lot of work (and I generally start it the day before I want to serve it), it is well worth the effort and makes for an outstanding dessert or a special afternoon tea/picnic treat. Please do give it a...
There is something perfect about little grape tomatoes – they always look so delicious and turn an ordinary salad into something quite extraordinary. I always have plenty growing in my garden!. Their colour too just represents summer and this tart is the perfect summer dish to share, albeit...
When you travel to Croatia, make certain that you seek out traditional food, as it is certain to delight your tastebuds. Sailing around Croatia, I was very lucky to have been invited to many a home, where I truly began to understand the uniqueness and flavour of the...
This is a wonderful Moussaka recipe from Maggie Beer which is found in her cookbook Maggie’s Kitchen. This is a lighter version of the traditional moussaka as it uses a really good chicken stock in the béchamel sauce, and the chicken stock really does work and this version is...
Modest in size, the Corsi Annalena Garden is laid out in terraces overlooking the Via dei Serragli, terracing undoubtedly being the best way of organising a garden when there is little surface area. The result affords a panoramic view of the countryside around Florence, extending from the urban...
Because of a notorious remark by Don Abbondio, a character in Allessandro Manzoni’s novel I promessi sposi (The Betrothed), Carnielo has become synonymous with the “perfect nobody” in Italy. By analogy, Florentines can be heard exclaiming: “Carnielo? Who was that guy?” Such being the case, it should be...
The Oratorio del Santissimo Crocifisso (Oratory of the Most Holy Crucifix) in Rome is a beautiful and but not well known large chapel which was built in memory of a miraculous event. On the night of 23 May 1519, the church of San Marcello al Corso was destroyed in...
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.
