Monthly Archives: July 2012

Ambassadors with Molto Gusto

Let me share with you a little known secret. In the lower ground floor of a fine townhouse in one of London’s most exclusive squares, there is a tiny restaurant which completely changes its theme near monthly. Two flags hang above … Continue reading

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Posted in Alcohol, Basil, Best Pasta, Blue Collar Gastronomy, Ligurian, New Chefs, Nonna's Cooking, Origins of our food, Real Italy, Rice, Simple Food, Southern Italy, The Moors, Wine Making and Viticulture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The ‘Heavyweight’ Lady Boxer

I write from time to time about how my life is a duopoly of luck and discovery. The people I meet lead me to places and products which are of that simplicity and authenticity that so many can only dream of – … Continue reading

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Posted in American Dishes, Blue Collar Gastronomy, Classic Rice Dishes, Food travel, French Markets, Great Chefs, London Dining, Simple Food, Techniques, Terroir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First in Britain – ‘Le Grand Maitre’ at Our Table

A text message pings in from Arnaud, a guy I’ve never met – “meet me on Smithfield Market in the morning at 06h00″ he wrote. Arnaud visits London once a month to look after the affairs of Loué, my favourite poultry … Continue reading

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Posted in Alcohol, Alliums, Blue Collar Gastronomy, Brassserie Lipp, Capon, Caponisation, Cazuela, Chicken, Fonds and Jus, Food Influencers, Food Marketeers, food politics, French Markets, French Regional Foods, French supermarkets, Guinea Fowl, IGP, Label Rouge, Pigeoneau, Poulet, Poulet Fermier, Poulet Fermiers, Risotto, Salad, Simple Food, Stocks and Stock Making, supermarkets, Terroir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

There’s ‘Pesto’ and there’s ‘Salsa’

Back in Genoa for the shortest 24 hour pit-stop, I fitted in so much stuff. I was there mostly to talk tuna – posh, top end tuna c/o of my local interpreter and fixer,  friend and architect, Sheila Opezzi. This is tuna which we’ll … Continue reading

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Posted in Aubergine, Basil, Best Pasta, Blue Collar Gastronomy, Cicchetti, DOP, Fish, Harry's Bar, Ligurian, Pigeoneau, Real Italy, Salad, Terroir, The Food Business | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

24h du Genoa

Back from the world’s greatest endurance race, the 24h du Mans in its 80th running, I couldn’t resist the headline. Off to Genoa on the early flight and still too late for lunch on day one and a too early … Continue reading

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Posted in Archaeology and Food, Basil, Blue Collar Gastronomy, DOP, Food travel, Ligurian, Real Italy, supermarkets | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The White Delight

There’s surely more to the magnificent and, by so many, over-looked vegetable, the cauliflower. ‘Cauliflower Ears’ were a graphic boxing term from thelate 19th and early 20th century refering to those poor off ’seconds’ who took the repeated punches and ended up with permanently … Continue reading

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