For just over a hundred years since its first appearance on a hotel menu the Caprese has been found in Italian restaurants around the world. Made with ripe, sweet tomatoes, creamy Mozzarella and pungent basil. It is finished with a pinch of salt and olive oil and that’s it. Simple. It is normally served as an appetiser, part of the traditional antipasto course of sliced cured meats, olives, and cheeses.
Classic Dishes
It’s all Greek to Me – The Secrets of a great Greek Salad
We are lucky in the Channel Islands to get some great salad vegetables and with just a few additions that means anyone can make a beautiful Greek Salad. We can talk later about what exactly those ingredients should be, but first, we need to look at the origins of this Mediterranean marvel.
Panzanella – A taste of Summer in a bowl
Panzanella – A taste of Summer in a bowl. I found that there was so much to take away from researching Panzanella. I feel that I could almost write a book. For example, I didn’t know that originally the tomato was thought to be poisonous. Consequently, on its introduction to Europe it was grown as an ornamental plant. In fact, tomatoes were only introduced to the Panzanella in the nineteen hundreds. Panzanella is an example of Italian cucina povera or ‘food of the poor’. This a frugal style of cooking making the most of every ingredient.
Summer Fruit Pavlova
Summer Fruit Pavlova. It’s peak strawberry season; tennis rackets are in full swing at Wimbledon. But even if the weather isn’t playing ball. Excuse the tennis pun. I thought it would be nice to write about one of my family’s favourite desserts. Pavlova, a big pile of meringue with an icky-sticky marshmallow-like centre. Piled up with whipped cream and topped with fruit. For more birthday celebrations than I can remember a huge Pavlova is always my mum’s go-to show-stopping dessert.