The Long Lunch

There is nothing more delightful then spending a Sunday afternoon with our adopted Italian grandparents - Nonna Nina and Serge. I've always aspired to be an Italian! In March, I spent a week in Northern Italy and fell in love. In love with the culture; the people, the language, the architecture, the wine and ohhhhh my goodness, the food!! The people seemed to buzz with such a zest for life - and i felt...at home.

Today, as Kane and I were welcomed into Nonna Nina's kitchen, the same feelings of warmth rushed back to me. There is certainly no mistaking an Italian cucina! The central bench was crammed with bowls spilling over with home-grown seasonal produce; cherry tomatoes, passion fruit, lemons and eggplant. Although I had reminded her to keep things simple, I wasn't surprised when she unveiled her morning masterpiece; for antipasto, we enjoyed grilled marinated eggplant served with garlic toasts, shallow fried potato-anchovy-parmigiano fritters, and a mixed bowl containing the last of her son's home grown and marinated olives, artichoke hearts, pickled onions, semi dried tomato, and wedges of mature mozzarella. I was left aghast when she went on to boast that the cheese had been maturing in her fridge since Christmas time - but alas, no mould! I live on, 6 hours later, to tell the tale. Now, as for our secondi (main); we feasted on lasagna, roasted beef cheeks with seasonal vegetables, and chicken drumsticks marinated in lemon and oregano picked straight from their garden.  Did I mention that this stupendous spread was to cater for four? Four adults, yes - but still - i would call this excessive! I like excessive. As usual, everything she served was melt-in-the-mouth, 'can I have the recipe?' worthy. BUT, as usual, Nonna Nina replied, "why darling, you know me better than to ask! I couldn't tell you the recipe - I added all ingredients to taste".

So that Kane and I could semi-tackle our expanding waistlines before dessert, we convinced  our hosts to lead us on a walking tour of their property. We strolled through the orchard, admiring the lychee plantation, which once provided them with a source of income. Their property is also home to avocado, mango, citrus and macadamia trees. Serge muttered in frustration about the 'bloody - bloody white-tailed rats' getting into the macadamias. I couldn't help but have a little giggle. Nonna Nina explained that the macadamia is actually local to Queensland; it was originally known as the Queensland nut, however, it was re-named after its popularity began to soar in America. Who would have thought?

Upon return to the farm house, Nonna Nina whipped some cream in preparation for dessert:
Lemon - Passionfruit Tart served with freshly whipped cream and a Lemon Poppyseed - Sour Cream Cake, which I had baked earlier. Ohh Treat!! The Lemon - Passionfruit Tart was so sublime, that sadly, I had no room for any cake. Luckily, I had baked two and knew that another entire cake was waiting for me at home.

At my request, Nonna Nina attempted to recall the method to her magic:

I don't know darling...could have been 6, or 8, or even 10 passion fruit. I covered the pulp in water...it would have been about [this] deep in the pot...just a medium sized saucepan really. I left it to simmer and waited for the seeds to separate from the pulp. Then, I strained out the seeds, squeezed in the juice of a lemon, added to sugar to taste and while it stayed on the heat, I very gradually stirred in 3...or maybe even 4 teaspoons of custard powder. Then...I poured it into the tart shell and put it in the fridge to set, of course!  

Yes...of course... 

So there you have it. A late lunch at Nonna Nina's, after which, bellies full (and in despearte need of a siesta), we contently rolled out the door, as happy as two lambs in Spring!  I shall experiment with the tart a couple of times and post a recipe!
Until then, Ciao!

Parma and Poptarts

What a splendid way to spend a quiet Saturday evening; celebrating the arrival of our UK visas, with great food, great wine and even better company.

Kane and I admire the waterfront view, enjoying generous slices of Chèvre accompanied by the last of my bottle of Chablis - Bliss! I have been eyeing off Valli Little's recipe for Tomato Soup with Melting Bocconcini since pinching the May edition of Delicious magazine from mama's house; finally a large pot of goodness is simmering on the stove top.

It is in moments of contentment, like this, that i find myself reflecting. Today, reflecting on how plans and goals can change so drastically - yes as we mature, but more so in response to the twists and turns in our path (I believe that it's a wee thing called life!). However, for most, certain themes remain alive and constant. For a lifetime. No doubt you guessed that this next statement was coming but yes, my 'theme' is of an edible nature. At age seven, I dreamed of climbing half way up Enid Blyton's faraway tree, to share pop tarts with Silky and Moonface (just out of curiosity - didn't we all dream about that??). One decade and reality check later, my university break involved ten hour days de-handing bananas so that I could afford specialty delicatessen purchases during the semester. For those of you who have de-handed bananas for a living: you will understand when I say that I also became subject to a nasty case of RSI. For those of you who have not de-handed bananas for a living but have a burning desire to do so: it.will.be.the.death.of.you. Apologies - back to the theme. Four years later, graduated and earning, I find myself dreaming of navigating the canals of regional France on a non-commercial river barge, relishing in the delights of only the best local produce...or better yet, extended stays in the quaint B&B's of Parma, Italy. The wondiferous fact of life is that all of a sudden, these plans/goals/dreams are no longer a distant mirage - but a fast-approaching potential reality! While Kane and I are living in London, I will be utilising the opportunity to explore food culture across Europe at any chance possible. To put it into perspective, in a mere 25 days, 10 pound London to Parma airfares with Ryan Air, may well be at our disposal! Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!

If you aren't familiar with Parma as culinary haven, you simply MUST commence your research at once!! I first stumbled across the region when researching a prospective food-trail throughout Northern Italy - the motherland of Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma prociutto; how could it NOT have been on my radar? My research almost brought a tear to my eye! Did you know that it takes around 600L of cows milk to produce one 40kg round of Parmigiano? Incredible. What I love even more is how diverse it is! I grate Parmigiano for table use - yes - but also adore eating it in small wedges, drizzled with Balsamic vinegar. Just as I am overcome by disappointment that the wedge is finished, I remember that the rind can be saved and later, added to a minestrone for increasing depth of flavour. To waste any of this product seems such a terrible shame! I shan't be offended if you navigate away from my blog for 45 minutes to find out what all of the fuss is about, just so that we are on the same page. Infact - let me be polite and wrap my excitement, so that you can pop off to http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/emilia-romagna-and-san-marino/parma , or better yet, take a peek at http://www.taste.com.au/delicious/article/travel/parma+rome+milan,772

In the meantime, I will be researching potential modes of employment in London. It turns out that I must wait 18 weeks for my speech pathology registration to be processed by the UK Health Professions Council!

Until next time,
Ciau!....I hope that your next meal is Parma-inspired and Buonissimo!!

The 'F' Word

I have often envisaged myself as a writer...a magazine editor, newspaper columnist or novelist, perhaps. However, 2010 has come and gone and still, there are no signs of a Pulitzer reaching the pool room! Suddenly, I take the title of 'blogger'. Yes, I believe that I have become one of 'those' - but in my defence, this is my first gig. There are no rules, no regulations. I want to write about the 'f' word and Google tells me that I don't stand alone.

'Foodies'; although not yet acknowledged by wiki.org, we have indeed, become a subculture. We live and breathe to eat; to taste, to touch, to smell. To wholly and fully experience food. Our obsession consumes us, both when we are awake  - and in our dreams. Foodies come in many shapes and many sizes; he or she may wear the mask of lolly-pop lady, a detective, or even...a beekeeper. It now strikes me, that identifying a member of this collective may pose a challenge to the common Fuggle (not to be confused with 'muggle' - although,yes, this may have stemmed from an apparently not-so-well-hidden Harry Potter obsession). But in all seriousness - allow me.

Weetbix for breakfast makes us cringe (if not actually cry REAL tears) and whilst savouring the last of our lunch, we are mentally preparing at least two courses for dinner. Following a meal out, it would not be unusual to spot us on a private tour of the chef's cooking premises and a Saturday night may very well involve researching the use of products with PDO status defined under European Union Law (no judgement please!) Oh, and whilst we're on the subject, I should probably mention that many of us will have single-handedly photographed enough espressos to montage the remains of the Berlin wall.

Our reasons for blogging about food? To share the triumphs of executing our first canard a l'orange of course!!...Or the grave disappointment of a failed attempt at Baccala Mantecato (ok yes, I confess!) Perhaps we log in, hoping to extract secrets from the kitchen of an Oma or a Nonna; to explore time-honoured culinary traditions and to discuss recipes that could only be truly mastered through close observation,  because they call for 'a medium sized pinch' of this, 'a few large shakes' of that, and need to be mixed 'like so'.

As for me?
Formal background in food: nil.
Passion factor: plentiful.
Unlike Julie Powell, my current form of employment is rewarding; stimulating; a challenge....but just like Julie Powell, I yearn for much more than the daily grind. I want to do what I love. "Unreasonable", you say? Pig's Trotter! Pessimism has no place on this page!

Recently, I had an epiphany; I'm one of the lucky ones. Lucky enough to have identified my passion. I want to...no, I NEED to harness it, explore it and push at all of the boundaries. I yearn for a career in the food industry and although this journey began in my Oma's kitchen nearly two decades ago, my commitment to this dream, begins now. University of Gastronomical Sciences, Italy - you had better be ready for me ;) - and that's a promise. Hungry for an adventure? Keep on visiting - I hope that you enjoy the ride!