Jul92015by DishesOnly | News
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Pomo d’oro Luglio ha da poco bussato alla porta e non si può non rendere omaggio ad un piccolo grande tesoro che proprio in questo mese colora gli orti italiani e che ci da appuntamento, puntuale, preciso per farci “sentire addosso” l’estate in ogni senso. Più di 700 anni fa sbarcò timido timido in Europa, frastornato e sbatacchiato dopo un viaggio lunghissimo, d’oltreoceano . Ed era piccolo , talmente piccolo nelle sue dimensioni da far credere che fosse una ciliegia. Continuò ad essere guardato con una grande diffidenza per quasi due secoli e a riprova del suo non immediato successo , solo nel 1899 si trova la prima ricetta con lui come protagonista. A menzionarlo e a sdoganarlo dall’anonimato fu il noto letterato, ma , badate bene, grande cuoco Ippolito Cavalcanti. Il pomodoro è realmente un pomo d’oro: è un concentrato di virtù preziose: acqua, proteine, acidi organici, antiossidanti, Vitamina A , Vitamina C e pochi, pochissimi zuccheri (1%). Innegabilmente è il re della cucina mediterranea , in ogni stagione : grazie infatti alle sue molteplici varietà (si sfiornao i 1000!) abbiamo la possibilità di portarlo a tavola tutto l’anno. E scioriniamo con piacere alcune delle sue varietà (alcune, notate bene, alcune, perché l’elenco è ben più nutrito): Dunne, ,Perino, Pero d’Abruzzo, Regina, Costoluto Fiorentino, Pizzutello….. Ancora: Camone che con il suo “collare “ verde ha un aspetto “da baronetto”, una consistenza soda ed un sapore sapido….incredibilmente fantastico! San Marzano, che dà il meglio di sé ad Agosto per la gioia delle casalinghe che ne preparano scorte di pummarola per l’inverno a venire. Datterino:...
Jun242015by DishesOnly | News
During the summer, eating outdoors is a must and we are always looking for inspiration on how to set an eye-catching table for our gatherings. Here are three suggestions for your al fresco dinner parties and a checklist to set a summer casual table with casual dinnerware wherever your getaway is: at the seaside, on a lake, in the countryside, or in the mountains. Never forget: 1. KISS (keep it simple and straightforward) Don’t overwhelm your dining table with bulky centerpieces, flowers, candles, or other accessories such as napkin rings or place cards. Less is best. 2. No plastic! If you don’t want to wash dishes for the whole evening, use sustainable tableware such as palm leaves or paper that are really trendy and add warmth to your table. These are some suggestions: Eco or Wasara. Also do not use plastic for tablecloths, placemats or for any other accessories on the table. Use natural materials: linen, cotton, wood, plants and flowers. Metal may be used for a vintage feel. 3. Care for quality and details Chic equals beauty & elegance, and elegance is a matter of single little details. Preference should be given to artisanal tableware, handmade or hand painted plates and bowls, compared to industrial dinnerware. Iron the napkins if needed and follow the basic rules of the mise en place if you decide not to tie napkin and flatware together or to place them in other creative ways. After these general guidelines let’s switch to the “hands-on” section with a useful checklist when you are struggling with unexpected guests for an al fresco dinner; very few stress-free party tips...
May182015by Anna Laura | News
Passau is a pretty baroque town in Lower Bavaria – Germany – at the crossway of three famous rivers: Danube, Inn and Ilz. That is why it is also called Dreiflüssestadt or “City of Three Rivers”. Home of a notable University, the town is surrounded by rolling hills and forests. Driving up one of those narrow country roads, we reach Hans Fischer’s house where, until some times ago, you were welcomed by sheep, goats, chickens and a horse. Next to the house, in Hans’ workshop, there is always a coming and going: his five children visiting, students from all over the world attending Hans’ courses at the University of Passau, interns, customers buying ceramics, friends, other artists coming in for a beer (we are in Germany!) and conversing about art and philosophy. Time and space in this place assume a different dimension and meaning. Far from the frenzied cities but very close to Munich, where Hans often goes for his exhibitions, life has a natural rhythm. Hans is an eclectic and surrealist artist whose ceramic works range from dishes, to tableware to sculptures that are displayed in select museums and galleries. We catch up with Hans to better understand how he produces his beautiful ceramics and to understand important things to consider when buying a ceramic dish. “We start by making the clay, literally, as we buy raw clay nearby, mix it, then store it, as it is better when it has time to mature. Ceramic is completely made of natural materials, compared with Bone China that has synthetic elements in it. Resting time is also important: artisanal works take time!...
May72015by Anna Laura | News
“ If Zeus had willed it so Tha o’er the flowers one flower should reign a queen, I know, ah well I know The rose, the rose, that royal flower had been! She is of earth the gem, of flowers the diadem; And with her flush The meadows blush Nay, she is beauty’s self that brightens” Sappho, C.600 B.C. The rose may rank with the lily as the oldest of cultivated flowers. Unlike the chaste lily, which has only recently been intermarried, the rose is a wanton,very happy to be polled by others and bring forth new forms and colors to tease and delight her admirers. Rose became the flower most hybridized and “improved “by gardeners , so that the number of garden varieties on the nursery lists runs into thousand. And more are still being added year by year. In 2015 there are more than 13.000 names of roses!!!! According with the World Federation of Roses Societies the thousands of named roses are divided into three broad groups: –WILD ROSES: into this first group are included both the truly wild roses and those garden forms that are inseparably associated with them ( 150 -200 variants) –OLD GARDEN ROSES: groups of horticultural origin that were already estabilished prior to the year 1867, when“ La France” was seen to be the firts of what we now see as the Modern Roses. MODERN ROSES: the predominant roses of today that are still, unlike the Old garden roses, in active development by hybridists. WILD ROSES : numbering between 150 and 200, Wild Roses originated in the northern hemisphere, but now are...
Apr202015by Anna Laura | News
On one of my recent talent scouting trips around Italy, I met Maurizio Gallo. When I travel, I am searching for the finest ceramic artisans and boutiques. I met Maurizio in Sciacca, Sicily, which is known for its artistic ceramic production. Sciacca also boasts Sorelle Perconte, creators of Arcobaleno, an exclusive collection for DishesOnly. Maurizio is the Chief Barman of the Verdura Resort’s Granita Bar. While watching the sun set on the Italian sea from an exquisite outdoor terrace, Maurizio opened up about his job. Everyday he meets many people, including tourists from all over the world. “The Bartender is a psychologist.” Maurizio said. “Everybody confides in me. I listen carefully and prepare for each customer for the perfect cocktail, resulting in a relaxing and happy evening.” Here are his secrets for a trendy Aperitivo. Ready to impress your guests? 3 simple rules to throwing the perfect cocktail party 1. “To each his own”, to cite the book of the famous Sicilian author, Leonardo Sciascia. Try to match personalities with the right cocktail. Here are some examples: 007 Types. For very self-confident people serve Cocktail Martini or Negroni City Slickers. Entertaining an urban crowd in vacation mode? Serve long drinks like fruit cocktails or muddled mojitos. Sex and the City. Joyful and eclectic crowd? Serve up Cosmopolitans. One of Maurizio tricks: to hold up the straw on the glass, put some ice on it! 2. Choose the right glass. Once you have decided who is going to drink what, the next step is to choose the right glassware. The International Bartender Association (IBA) lists over 60 official cocktails with...
Apr162015by Anna Laura | News
As Mother’s day gets closer and closer, it is now time to choose a gift to show her your love. The dilemma often is: “Should I go for a useful present or for a showy one?”. Our answer is: you don’t have to choose! Let us suggest you several gift ideas for Mother’s day, each suitable for a particular “type” of mum. Styles, shapes and materials differ, but there is something in common in all of our gift ideas: each is useful and beautiful at the same time. We propose you dishware, tableware and kitchenware that your mum will love for both their functionality and beauty. The Classic Mum Let’s start with some gift ideas for the mum who loves the always fashionable classic style. This mum loves to wear pump shoes, medium or high-heeled, as long as they are refined and with a hint of retrò; she likes her sheath dresses (never too short!), tailleurs and elegant silk blouses. Pearls are her favorite, but she does not disdain other jewelry, especially in the evening. Her distinguished taste shows also at home: she is fond of ancient, precious furniture, and high-quality ceramics. In a classic mum’s home, stylish pieces are allowed, but there is no room for extravagance. We propose you a selection of dinner sets ideal for the classic woman which are elegant, refined but never excessive. Oro - Handmade ceramic dinner set with beaded edges More Details Rosone - The richness of the Sicilian Baroque shines in this ceramic dinner set More Details Regina - Handmade scalloped ceramic dinner set More Details Nuvola - Handmade milky white ceramic dinner set with undefined edges More Details Foglia - A 12-piece set in...
