This dynamic scene captures the highly charged moment when Bacchus, Roman God of wine, first sets eyes on Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete, and the two fall in love. The painting is full of sublime movement, from the leaping Bacchus with his rippling cloak to the dancing...
This is quite simply divine and from someone who doesn’t have a sweet tooth, I look forward to a slice of this little piece of Spanish heaven. The combination of cream cheese, goat’s curd and yoghurt makes the centre of this cake superb and the brandy is the perfect...
Lentils are a very ancient cultivated plant that reached the Mediterranean region from the Orient. I have previously posted a piece about Puy lentils from France, well here I want to provide a little information on the lentils produced in the Castelluccio region of Umbria. Although the cultivation of...
If you are a fan of terrines, and they do make a wonderful starter or part of a mezze or picnic, then the flavours of this chicken and parsley terrine are ones you will fall in love with. With or without the zucchini salad, this terrine packs a real...
My friends and clients would all know that I am partial to Campari and other than the enjoyment of it as a sublime liquid, it makes a wonderful addition to a dessert or cake, and I have shared a couple of other recipes using Campari. This cake is just...
(The Adoration of the Magi – Albrecht Altdorfer, c1530) The wise men or Magi are referred to in the Gospel According to St Matthew (2: 1-12) but without any mention of their names, their number of the fact that they are kings, It was an apocryphal Armenian gospel of...
This is nothing short of to die for – one of those ‘death by chocolate’ moments which will leave a smile on the face of your guests and family for weeks to come. It might appear complicated but it really is quite simple but you do need to begin...
This is a wonderful version of roast chicken and while I was initially somewhat sceptical of the risotto stuffing, it only took one cook of this dish to convince me to pick it in my favourites in my recipe file. The mushrooms are the perfect accompaniment here and they...
This is a wonderful pasta dish with flavours that just tempt your tastebuds for more. The lightly fried crispy, golden pumpkin is soft on the inside and compliments the pasta so well, while the prosciutto and goat’s cheese add two contrasting but equally complementary flavours and textures. The pine...
I love using blood-oranges. These small oranges have such a richly hued flesh that not only yields a dazzling ruby-coloured juice, but the juice makes a sensational sorbet and sliced they look extraordinary. This easy to make tart really shows off the blood-orange in all its glory and tastes...
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.
