This is where Home Food steps in. Sponsored, supported, and partnered by and with the Italian government and the University of Bologna, the organization aims to spread the culture of traditional food. They achieve this end by inviting guests in to homes of Italian families “to taste foods cooked by the lady of the house, the repository of the old culinary ways and methods.” Very cool!
They have a calendar of ongoing events throughout the boot, but I’m only highlighting the upcoming dinners in southern Italy. Please note, you must become a registered user to participate in their events. Click here to read more about the process. They will also work with you to specialize an event, read more here.
Palermo, Sicily
Friday March 20, 2009 at 20:30
“A journey through Sicilia…the “Timballo del Gattopardo”
The Menu
- Smoked swordfish and tuna with cruditées seasoned with extravirgin olive oil from Castelvetrano
- Timballo (timbale) del Gattopardo
- Caponata with aubergine, apples and pumpkin
- Cuscus di pistacchi
- Pesche gelate (ice peaches) di Brydone
- Principe di Corleone-Pinot Bianco (Pollara Monreale)
- Nero d'Avola (Cusumano)
Naples, Italy
Saturday March 21, 2009 at 20:30
“In front of the sea, on the Caracciolo promenade, the Neapolitan cuisine to taste also with one’s eyes.”
The Menu
- Nests of tart pastry and fruit aperitif
- Vermicelli with courgettes and fresh ricotta cheese, tomatoes and basil in strips
- Meatloaf filled with “friarielli”, potato pie and peppers pappacella
- Rum Baba
The Wine
- "Solopaca" red
Lecce, Puglia
Sunday March 22, 2009 at 20:30
“Where the Countryside Meets the Sea”
The Menu
- Antipasto terracqueo
- Orecchiette with turnip tops
- Stuffed focaccia
- Pureè of dried broad beans with wild cicorietta and fennel
- Pane casereccio
- Green garden salad
- Biscotti della mamma
The Wines & Liqueurs
- Carefully selected wines, produce of the Cantine of Salento
- Limoncello
- Grappa all'aroma di finocchio
Buon Appetito!
9 comments:
Thanks for stopping by my blog! As a fellow resident of the mostly neglected, ignored and misunderstood south of Italy, I think your blog is wonderful and much needed. There is so much to see and do down here that isn't in Pompeii or the Amalfi Coast.
I sure hope that you make it to the one in Naples this weekend so that you can report back on the meatloaf with friarelli. We are big fans of it (friarelli) in this house, but stuffed in meatloaf doesn't seem appetizing at all. I bet a bit was lost in translation with that!
I'm actually trying my hardest to attend!! You have to go through what seems a lot of hoops to get registered. Hopefully I'll know by Monday... Seriously, I'm so with you on the friarelli, this broccoli rabe, right? Love it, but stuffed in a meatloaf! hah! Can't wait to see what that is about!!
Can't wait to hear about your experiences! It is a cool program.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I was so happy to see your post. I had heard of this program and have spent numerous late nights doing different searches trying to find it, even sending an email to the slow food association. I'm spending the summer in Italy, starting in Venice, Liguria, then heading south---Rome, Naples, and Sicily and am planning to attend an event at each place.
I also heard of something similar where you can take an actual hands-on cooking class at the home of an Italian "mama" (or possibly Cesarina). Have you heard of this, and would you possibly know of the website?
THe program sounds fantastic. Unfortunately my trip to Italy is very last minute (leave tomorrow) and I don't think there's time to registar as a guest for home food. Does anyone have any alternate suggestions? I would love to see what a home cooked vs a restaurant meal is like.
Thanks
Carrie from Houston, TX
Carrie, Where are you going and how long will you be there? I might know someone that can point you in the right direction.
Kathy, I don't know of anything specific where you cook with a 'mamma', but I think you are right that it could be the cesarine. I see on their site they do offer cooking classes and more personalized programs. They emailed me back pretty quickly, so I would try to contact them and see what they can put together.
I have friends in Sicily that offer cooking classes from their home. They are olive farmers living in the country about 45 minutes from Catania. It is not commercial at all and would be rather 'rustic', but a wonderful and real experience. Here is their website, http://www.siculolio.ch/indexE.html. It's not the best so I would recommend just emailing them. Both Emilio and Mariska speak english.
Let me know if I can get any other information for you.
Enjoy your trips to Italy!!
Home Food is a great organization! I have trying to convince my friend in Rome to join as a host, as he is a brilliant chef and has a nice taverna in which to hold the dinners. He doesn't like that the cooks are called "cesarina" (feminine) ;) The event in Naples sounds yummy!
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!
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