Fresco ē meglio

One of the things I learned in Italy was the fresher the food the better the flavour. So I’ve taken it to heart and decided to grow my own. Starting small scale with tumbling tomatoes

 

I thought it would make a great change to your everyday hanging basket.

Then I found an aubergine plant. That’s got to look great as it grows surely…

And the herbs are in. Found an interesting variety of basil with the tiniest leaves but an amazing flavour.  With some peppermint for sweet flavour and rosemary.

It’s a small step but it’s a start!

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A little taste of Italia right here in Brighton

A very good friend of mine who I don’t see often enough was in Brighton for a conference. So dinner was a must!  I wanted to try an Italian restaurant that people had been talking about. It started as a pizzeria but has reinvented itself as an Osteria. Franco’s.

Well……..It was like coming home.  Charles started with bresaola

and I had burrata that had been flown in the day before..

 

This was followed by homemade ravioli which I was too eager to eat to take a photo.

After 2 courses I was pretty full. But we were persuaded to have the tiramasu. Now i don’t like tiramasu usually but this one left me speechless

A fantastic meal. Great  company. And a great find!

 

Slightly off topic but…

..as this was part of my birthday celebration I think it’s OK  to include it here. I was taken today for lunch to South Lodge. It’s a hotel about 20 minutes from me and has the most beautiful grounds. We had a drink on the terrace pre lunch and coffee outside post lunch. It’s not great weather  today but stayed warm long enough.

 

The reason I’m writing is because as much as I go on about how beautiful Puglia is. I have to say that Sussex also holds its own..

 

 

Plus there were tiny bunny rabbits roaming

and I finally got a cake with a candle!!

Perfect.

Tutto mio

…well from next Saturday.  Un piccolo pezzo di cultura italiana.

 

Yes I did!!!  Very excited about picking it up next week. Just got to sort out the insurance and we’re off….

I feel like I’m bringing a little bit of Italy home with me..🚗🚗🚗🚗

Orecchiette…..

Today I attempted to make pasta for the first time since returning from Puglia. I’ve acquired some Barley Flour to mix in with the OO Flour and I have my lovely The Awaiting Table apron.

 

I mixed the flours together and then added water….

 

Then some kneading.  I’m still not sure how long I need to to this for but I did it till it felt about right..the picture is it in its early stages. I then cleared away any left over Flour before finishing the kneading as I remember Silvestro making us do that

Then I rolled the dough out into a long finger, cut into portions and with a serrated knife produced these

 

They are drying out now. So just got to see how they taste!  But not too shabby for a first go..

 

 

 

I olive Puglia …to Brighton

OK so I’ve stolen this little joke from Desi and Silvestro at The Awaiting Table. But I’m very happy because my olive oil arrived yesterday!!!!

 

A little bit worse the wear for the journey but my oh my the oil is amazing!!!!!!!

Makes me happy to have a little piece of Puglia in my own kitchen. Talking of which I finally got my hands on some Barley Flour. So pasta making here I come. Going to give orecchiette a go…

I knew I couldn’t quite step away from this blog. So any Italian aspect of my life…prepare to read it here.

It’s good to be back.😉

Home again…

I can’t quite seem to tear myself away from the blog. Coming back to Brighton has been a strange feeling. My cat was decidedly nervous of me at first but has quickly settled back in to snuggling in mode and demanding attention. It was my mum’s birthday on Thursday so I drove up to see my parents which was a lovely distraction. Weird getting in my car after 5 weeks!  The brakes took a bit of time warming up but otherwise it appeared to have survived the 5 weeks in tact….

…or so I thought. Friday was a different story. I walked up to see my hairdresser and discovered he hasnt paid the rent and has disappeared.  Never mind, I thought, its a beautiful sunny day, I was off to meet a friend for a lovely walk in Stanmer Park. I put the roof down on my car, drove to the park……and couldn’t close the roof.  Walk abandoned, I ended up back at my garage and looking at new cars!  The new Fiat 500 has caught my eye but I’m not sure that’s not just nostalgia for Italy.

It’s not this exact car but it is this colour. Do I buy it??

My final thoughts…

I leave tomorrow for the UK. I’ve had a fantastic 5 weeks. Met some great people, visited real gems of Southern Italy, had good food, good wine and great olive oil. Can make ( sort of ) my own pasta, can roll my ‘r’s properly and get by in basic italian. This trip has taught me much and I hope I’m the better for it. I will strive to hold on to that.

So my final picture is of me, today, tired but happy. Very happy

My passion for Italy has only increased. I may take a little break from the blog but I will be back. The blog title says it all…..

Jewish history and greenery…

Trani has a rich Jewish history. Frederick II was very fair with the Jews and they were welcomed under his reign. At one time 4 synagogues existed in the area but after the Jews were expelled all were turned into Churches. One has now been turned back into a synagogue. It was closed but looked interesting. Unusual to have the Magen David (Star of David) above  Church bell.

 

The synagogue was dated back to 1244.  It then became the Church of Our Lady of Scolanova ( after being Church of our Lady of Graces and the Church of our Lady of the Nativity)

After visiting a shul you have to eat…so I settled down to my final celice di rosato and some sun

 

Then I strolled around to the other side of the port to the beautiful gardens of the Villa Comunale

 

I love that someone changes the stones every day to make sure the date is correct

 

And finally some pictures of Trani in sunshine…

 

A feste in Trani….

Today began with loud explosions. It’s a feste!!!  Today it’s the feste of SS. crocifisso di Colonna. It has it that on May 3, 1480 a wooden cross was stolen from the church of Santa Maria di Colonna by pirates, which was then mutilated and the nose of Christ began to bleed and was thrown into the sea but carried on….

After a lovely breakfast of homemade jam and cake at my B&B, the rain finally stopped and I strolled towards the port and the Basilica.   The fishermen were back in port getting ready to sell their catch straight off the boats

 

Then round to the Cathedral. Quite a dramatic building

While I was inside, the preparations were underway for the beginning of the procession to mark the Feste so I waited to see them off.

Once they were on their merry way preceded by a band from Polignano a Mare, I walked around to the Castle Svevo. By now the sun was pushing it’s way through. It’s an interesting building, at one point it was used as a prison but some original features remain

The castle had its own toilets!!  Frederick II was very civilised

 

More to follow…