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...
I recently shared with you Maggie’s Verjuice Cookbook, but here I want to share with you Maggie’s Kitchen – a cookbook of pure country delight, celebrating good, fresh, simple food that has become so much a staple of the way that I cook today, thanks to Maggie. The first thing I...
I put lasagne up there with the best of comfort foods. It is such a perfect dish to share and is always guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of family and friends. Here is a sensational Sicilian Chocolate Lasagne – it might sound strange but chocolate is...
According to legend, zuccotto is the first semifreddo in the history of cooking and was originally made in an infantryman’s studded helmt.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...
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....
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...
The quandong is a relatively unknown Australian bushfruit, treasured by Aboriginal Australians for centuries. It was dried or the fruit was eaten raw and it was discovered to be a valuable source of vitamin C. In her book Bush Food, Jennifer Isaacs describes how the Aborigines burnt the branches of...
Croatian wines are simply delightful and their variety and deep flavour have been impressing visitors to Croatia since the times of the ancient Greeks. The ideal conditions for viniculture in this region were recognized by the Greeks and Romans, who produced wine often in the same places, and with...
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.
