The Knot of Love and Custoza DOC wines, Part 2 Part 1 of this article looked at Custoza DOC and the reasons influencing the taste and quality of its dry white wines. Now Part 2 puts that to the test with six representative Custoza DOC wines presented by the Consorzio. An interactive map below shows the locations of the featured producers, while …
Summer Pudding – a classic dessert
Summer Pudding – a classic dessert Summer Pudding is a classic dessert for the British summer. Here’s a super-easy recipe that makes a Summer Pudding serving six, inspired by Jane Grigson’s Fruit Book – which is a great read. Redcurrants and Blackcurrants are the two essential soft fruits for Summer Pudding. If you have a handful of Whitecurrants, Loganberries, Raspberries, Tayberries …
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Black Bee Honey from Sicily – tasting with cheeses
Black Bee Honey from Sicily – tasting with cheeses. We all know that bees make honey. But not just honey; beeswax, honeycomb, propolis and royal jelly too. However, this article is about Sicilian Black Bee honey, which, like wine, comes in different flavours according to where the beehives are. And like wine, these can match different artisanal cheeses to a greater …
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Vegetarian Haggis – It’s Not so Offal
Vegetarian Haggis – It’s Not so Offal Vegetarian Haggis? A contradiction in terms. Hold on, not so fast. In the early 1990s, while staying in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh, we happened by chance on Macsween’s butcher’s shop. It was there that the late John Macsween built his reputation as a premier Haggis maker. On entering, we discovered his Vegetarian …
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Porchetta – An Italian Food Classic
Porchetta – An Italian Food Classic One of the joys of cuisine in Italy is finding mobile food vans selling hot Porchetta, especially on weekends and national holidays. I recommend that wherever you stay in Italy, ask if there’s a van visiting nearby. This might be at a market or village celebration. Sometimes the regular vans are pitched on the side …
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Craft Vinegar from Orkney – Time for an Acid Trip
Craft Vinegar from Orkney – Time for an Acid Trip The renewed appreciation of vinegar is a welcome food trend. It advocates using speciality vinegar, in cooking, as a condiment or even in cocktails. But, unfortunately, so many food trends turn out to be the briefest of over-hyped fads replete with dubious celebrity endorsements and dietary benefits. However, the rise …
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Lockdown Linguine – A Recipe for Social Distancing
Lockdown Linguine – A Recipe for Social Distancing Lockdown Linguine is a delicious, simple pasta recipe, which also happens to be brilliant with a bottle of white wine, and it only takes 10-15 minutes to make. It’s Italian-style, though I don’t know if there’s an Italian name for it. Here it’s called Lockdown Linguine, as much for the alliteration as anything. …
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Tuscan Salad: Insalata di Fegatini di Pollo
Tuscan Salad: Insalata di Fegatini di Pollo Here’s a simple Tuscan salad recipe that’s cheap, quick and easy. I first tried it in a restaurant in San Gimignano while attending their Anteprima, where the new Vernaccia wines are previewed and judged. However, it’s also available in many UK Italian restaurants. While the English translation is Warm Chicken Liver Salad, that simply …
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Brown Sauce – exploring a piquant cultural icon
Brown Sauce – exploring a piquant cultural icon Brown Sauce. Huh? It’s ubiquitous here in the UK, often forgotten about until that crucial moment you automatically reach for it and find it’s not there. Panic ensues while you search the kitchen cupboard. Or there’s the slightly embarrassing feeling if you need to ask for it when eating out, so revealing …
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Dosage Zero, Champagne Paillard with Crofton Cheese
Dosage Zero, Champagne Paillard with Crofton Cheese Dosage Zero is a specialist Champagne from Bruno Paillard. I’ve written about this Champagne House previously, so rather than repeat myself, see here for my piece on what Champagne Bruno Paillard is all about. In style, the wines from this Champagne House are usually Extra-Brut, with minimal residual sugar, designed to let the land …
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