Tag Archives: Ancient Rome

The Bretons’ Best Silver

How can one improve on eating sardines? The little fish described by London chef Rowley Leigh of Le Café Anglais as ‘the rabbits of the piscatorial world’. Wouldn’t we prefer this Chef/Writer had kept his English plainer and written ‘sea’, but otherwise I loved what he said, specially … Continue reading

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Posted in Blue Collar Gastronomy, Brassserie Lipp, Bread, Fish, Food of the Ancients, French supermarkets, Harry's Bar, Label Rouge, Simple Food, supermarkets, Terroir, The Food Business, Venice, Vinegars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Pigeonneau is No Pigeon-You-Know

If an Egg-on-Legs is a country mile from a Poulet Fermier, then let the same be said of the gracious Pigeonneau from its too often mistaken equivalent, the feral wood pigeon. Pigeons have always been message couriers, from the Ark, through sieges … Continue reading

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Posted in Alcohol, Alliums, Archaeology and Food, Blue Collar Gastronomy, Food of the Ancients, French Markets, French Regional Foods, French supermarkets, Great Chefs, Greek Cooking, Pigeoneau | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Feta that’ll not Make you Feta’r

You all know the expression in English ‘as different as chalk and cheese’ – I’d reckon it must have been dreamed up to describe Feta cheese. Most Feta on sale is one-dimensional, chalky, overly saline and utterly pointless. The original barrel-aged Feta, … Continue reading

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Posted in Archaeology and Food, Blue Collar Gastronomy, Citrus Fruit, DOP, Food of the Ancients, IGP, Ingredients, Origins of our food, Real Italy, Salad, Salad and Digestion, Seasoning, Simple Food, Southern Italy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Condiment or Fish? You Decide

A deep love of food culture and ingredients has my mind flicking backwards and forwards as I go about my day.  If my day has me in a space as splendid as Genoa, then you must expect some fire crackers. … Continue reading

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Posted in Archaeology and Food, Best Pasta, Black Peppercorns, Blue Collar Gastronomy, Brassserie Lipp, Caesar Salad, Cauliflowers, Fish, Food Marketeers, Food of the Ancients, Food travel, Foraging, French supermarkets, Ligurian, Nonna's Cooking, Origins of our food, Real Italy, Salad, Salad and Digestion, Simple Food, Wild Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Mothers of Vinegars

Vinegar is a kitchen essential.  That’s no glib statement – it’s true and yet vinegar, I fear, has become a near forgotten ingredient for all too many home cooks. It’s nobody’s fault – it just happens that good everyday vinegar is a scarcity … Continue reading

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Posted in Alliums, Chicken, Fish, French Markets, French supermarkets, Game, Ingredients, Kitchen Must-Have, Kitchen Tips, Oysters and Shellfish, Salad, Simple Food, supermarkets, Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Far, Far and Farro Away

In far, far away times in Ancient Rome,  it is recorded that the legionaires and their centurions marched on spelt – better known as farro. Spelt is one of the oldest varieties of cultivated wheat and has rather come back in … Continue reading

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Posted in Archaeology and Food, Blue Collar Gastronomy, Bread, Classic Rice Dishes, Fish, Food of the Ancients, Ingredients | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments