Domenico Romoli, a contemporary of Bartolomeo Scappi (see a previous blog entry), first had published in 1560 his Singolare dottrina which was an accumulation, much like Scappi’s work, of his professional knowledge and wisdom in the keeping of a house. In Book 1 of this work which he is writing to a younger...
When Nero died in 68AD, his successors strived to eliminate the last traces of his extraordinary palace on the Esquiline, the famous Domus Aurea (Golden House). The rooms, glittering with gold and precious stones and decorated with frescoes, marble sculptures and multi-coloured stucco, were looted and then buried up...
As you all know, traditional fare at Christmas throughout Italy is the famous panettone, the vanilla flavoured sugarloaf baked with raisins and other dried fruits. Although various legends have tried unconvincingly to explain its origin, panettone unquestionably originated in Milan. Founded by the Insubi Celts around 600BC, Mediolano, as...
Guérande sea salt As long as 2700 years ago, salt was being extracted on the Guérande peninsula, in the southern tip of Brittany, near the Loire estuary. In the distant past clay containers full of salt water were heated in ovens until salt was produced. The Romans obtained...
(Painting by Peter Paul Rubens 1636 – Vulcan forging the thunderbolts of Jove.) Here is a little about the mythology around Hephaestus (Vulcan), the Greek God of Fire…. When Hera gave birth to Hephaestus and discovered he was lame, she reluctantly threw him down from heaven into the sea....
Did you know that the favourite champagne of Sir Winston Churchill was Pol-Roger? If not, here is a little of the story of Sir Winston and the House of Pol-Roger Champagne. Sir Winston was well known for his love of champagne a love which the London socialite Lady Astor disapproved. It...
Pecorino cheese is a generic name for the pale sheep milk cheese of Italy, and Percorino is a staple of the Sardinian diet. Sardinia is the only region to produce 3 pecorino cheese with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) appellation – Pecorino Sardo, Fiore Sardo and Pecorino Romano. Pecorino Sardo PDO...
Corsican honey is the only Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée product ever to have the left planet – it went to the Mir space station! But that is not why it is an interesting product. Honey on Corsica is produced by a unique species of bees, the family of which was providing honey to Romans...
Did you know that in the late 14th century, demand for Bordeaux “Clairet” had become so strong, that the wine fleet sailed twice a year, with England taking around 80% of the Bordelais exports. (“Clairet” was the name given to a pink wine, the grapes for which were picked very early...
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.
