In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I've found you a very cheap soda syphon at [url=http://www.shopmania.it/shopping~online-kitchen-dining~compra-sifone-seltz~p-1986653.html]Sifone Seltz, prezzi[/url]
Though there are a sack of 'antique' ones available on e-bay which would be considerably more aesthetic!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Brilliant, thank you, I know what someone's getting for Christmas. Now I've just got to figure out how to shop on Ebay!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
You can buy the one Charles suggests and the little "bombs" online here - [url=http://www.stilcasa.net/itemdetail.cfm?id=22.SIF]Stilcasa - Cucina Accessori, Accessori, Sifone Seltz[/url] Violetta
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
This is a nice one and can be bought online - [url=http://www.iltarlo.it/shop/index.html?target=p_783.html&lang=en-us]Il Tarlo Antiquariato on line[/url]
[IMG]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z294/sallydonaldson/Sifone_seltz_Jolly_italiano_acciaio.jpg[/IMG]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Failing having a Syphon, you could always add apinch of Bi Carb to Mineral Water. tastes about the same.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Seem to remember from sodastream days (remember them?) that soda water is made from water and the CO2 bomb-thing with the prior addition of a sodium bicarb tablet, I'm sure a quarter teaspoonful of sod. bicarb would do just as well. I think the bicarb addition means more bubbles for your buck.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Relevant to drink/mixers that you usually 'can't find' in Italy. Somebody on this board had asked for Pimms - and he managed to locate it. Then another friend lamented the unavailability of tomato juice (for making Bloody Mary's) - the same Pimm's place managed to supply this no problem (the only problem was that it is called succo di frutta al pomodoro!) So I thought that this particular outlet just might be able to supply Advocaat...no luck...
Anyway, for those of you in the SI/PG zone, this wholesale/retail bar supply outlet in Po Bandino (close to the Lidl store) has a fairly comprehensive selection of foreign brews/mixers, currently lacking only the aforesaid advocaat and no dry ginger. (Do not try to persuade me that Crodino or Gingerino come anywhere close!)
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Charles Phillips;106013]Anyway, for those of you in the SI/PG zone, this wholesale/retail bar supply outlet in Po Bandino (close to the Lidl store) has a fairly comprehensive selection of foreign brews/mixers, currently lacking only the aforesaid advocaat and no dry ginger. (Do not try to persuade me that Crodino or Gingerino come anywhere close!)[/quote]
Charles, this is extraordinary, I know this area extremely well but it surprises me that such a place would exist there. (Or perhaps not, there are lots of foreigners in the Trasimeno area? And lots of Dutch so possibly Advocaat at a future date. Anyone remember Snowballs at Christmas (Advocaat, squeeze of lime and, what, lemonade?)
For anyone coming this way, it's quite easy to find if you leave the A1 at Chiusi and follow signs for Citta della Pieve. You'll see Lidl on the left before the fork in the road. I've long grown out of my love of Pimms but it's the sort of drink that Italian friends may be interested in trying on a summer's evening. Used to know a couple in the Middle East who grew borage in their garden (in the winter) just so they could float the flowers on the top of jugs of Pimms.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
The outlet is a warehouse (though it has quite a nice display area, mainly of wines, the other goodies are hidden away in the back). I don't think I saw the name - but it has 'bibite' written large. You have to go into the Lidl estate (turn left at the roundabout after the flyover if coming from Chiusi), then turn right after twenty metres or so, and left again after another fifty metres and it is straight ahead of you.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Easy to make "Bloody Marys"
Just take some Passata and dilute it down about 30% and use as tomato juice. Worcester sauce & Tabasco are readily available. We use this method a lot during the summer.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Thanks for the details Charles. There's a place not far from the main station in Perugia called Gio (grandi Magazzini) that sells all sorts of bottles of stuff and delicious goodies from the rest of Europe. Via D'Andreotto. Perugia Tel 075 5726953. May have what you are searching for?
We were given a bottle of Winter Pimms...still not tried it!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Yes, Charles, thanks for the good directions. I had a drive around this area the other day without much success but that was before having read your later mail. Hubby has run out of sherry and even his usual reliable supplier (Pegna, Florence) didn't have any earlier in the week. We'll head back to Po' Bandino tomorrow.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I've found ginger ale in Carrefour in the past if anybody is interested!
[quote=Violetta;104693]Droning on all last night to hubby about dehumidifiers, he suggested I asked a truly useful question of my friends in cyberspace, namely what is the closest Italian equivalent to soda? He likes to make his own Campari sodas rather than buy the bottled mixed ones but can never find the right accompaniment. Ever so fizzy water, obviously, is the natural choice but that goes flat quite quickly and isn't quite the same. I've seen something in our large supermarket called "Brilliante" (? spelling?) on the shelf next to the Schweppes tonic but he claims we've tried that before and it was more like lemonade. Any ideas?[/quote]
Acqua Brillante is just 'Tonic Water'...
Soda water (the kind in syphons) is called[B] 'selz'[/B]. It is usually 'on tap' on the bar. I have never seen (though I've never really looked) soda syphons over here...
The 'water' similar to lemonade is probably 'gazzosa'.