Diario
Recent mini-updates from life in Florence
21 gennaio 2021
I wept for joy. And celebrated. With Dario and Kim and a little help from my distant friends. Berardino’s pancotto technique with leeks. Valerio’s vegetables. Varvara’s exceptional lamb. For dessert sheep’s milk ricotta with Bonajuto chocolate and Fischetti amarene. Sparkler from De Meo. Brunello from Mastroianni. And even grappa, from Le Ragnaie. So so happy.
15 gennaio 2021
My favorite Sicilian oranges are late and smaller this year. A 40 kg. gift from Giuseppe Grasso of Alleva bio with an assist from Vito Santoro. No specific cultivar, they’ve mostly gone unharvested because labor costs exceed their market value in Sicily. Their flavor is complex, sweet and sour, perfect for winter salads instead of tomatoes. But especially for Sicilian orange and fennel salad. It’ll be on the menu for months in my kitchen.
13 gennaio 2021
Family at our table. At last. With amazing ingredients from friends. Luisa's super prosciutto. Acciugata with anchovies from Pasquale. Caperà from Arianna. Wine from Piermario, Planeta and Fontodi. Dario’s scamerito cooked in Nancy Silverton’s amazing pan. Cauliflower with acciugata. Fennel with pomegranate. And for dessert Massimiliano’s panforte.