Wonderful to be here, Autumn at its best with leaves turning an opulent red and gold falling constantly and quietly to carpet the ground. Its warm too – a treat and a welcome respite from the UK weather; misty mornings, sunny days and a roaring fire by night.
It’s a pleasure to don an apron and get stuck into the kitchen piled high with perfect Autumnal produce.
A kaleidoscope of colours; deep purple radicchio trevisano, late season rich red tomatoes, round shinny violet aubergines, earthy brown funghi porcini and trompettes. Bright orange pumpkin beloved of Northern Italy, add a little mostarda di Cremona, amaretti biscuits and you have the perfect ravioli filling.
A morning in Venice provides us with gleaming fresh fish returning home with a healthy appetite to knock up ‘mob’ food, the classic linguine alle vongole. So simple yet so perfect chilli, garlic, and oil toss with clams and linguine and serve with, in my humble opinion, the queen of Soaves, Pieropan Calvarino .
Only a couple more days and we still have so much to do, taste, see, sample, cook and savour – we must live in the present and not miss a moment. The only thin cloud on the horizon is that my family are not here with me to enjoy this beautiful season. Next time…
