briciole

Novel Food #11: bouillabaisse marseillaise (zuppa di pesce alla marsigliese)

In the announcement of the current edition of Novel Food, I wrote: "I am reading Chourmo, a novel by Jean-Claude Izzo (I am actually reading the Italian translation from the original French), the second volume of his Marseilles Trilogy. I won't say more about the book now, because I may choose to feature it..." I have made my choice and here I will tell you a bit more about the novel and its author. In previous editions of Novel Food, I have written about Salvo Montalbano (more than once) and Pepe Carvalho. Now is the turn of Fabio Montale: how does... Read more →

salmone in crosta / salmon en croute

The December 2009 Daring Cooks challenge was hosted by Simone of Junglefrog Cooking. Simone chose Salmon en Croute (or alternative recipes for Beef Wellington or Vegetable en Croute) from Good Food online. You can find the recipes for all the elements of the challenge here1. I had planned to prepare the dish on Sunday December 6, the plan entailing making homemade cream cheese, but a set of unforeseen circumstances subverted my plans. And then forgetfulness set in and the day I prepared another batch of homemade cream cheese (the previous one having been rapidly completely consumed), I realized that it was... Read more →

Novel Food #9: la caldeirada di Pepe Carvalho / Pepe Carvalho's caldeirada

my version of caldeirada I am not sure why it has taken me so long to read a novel by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán featuring Pepe Carvalho, but recently, I finally did it. I have known for a while the connection between Montalbano and Montalbán, though it was only when I started writing this post that I learned the details. In this interview (in Italian), Camilleri explains (my translation of the transcript): I came up with the protagonist's name, because while I was writing the novel, I was reading a novel by Vázquez Montalbán, The Pianist. The structure of that novel gave... Read more →

cartolina da Palermo: involtini di pesce spada / postcard from Palermo: swordfish rolls

at La Vucciria (Palermo) During our recent visit to Palermo, one day we ate lunch at the historical Antica Focacceria San Francesco, which has been in existence since 1834. Customers pay for their meal, get their receipt, then fill their tray and finally sit at one of the old tables with marble top in the inviting dining room. The menu includes traditional Sicilian dishes, like the involtini di pesce spada that were part of our meal. Swordfish is readily available at the historical fish market we had recently visited, La Vucciria. I noticed that all vendors there display the prized fish... Read more →