We all have cooking tips and techniques learnt through personal experience or because someone else was kind enough to tell us.
Gala Placidia's activity
Questions Asked
A fairly comprehensive list of words related to food and wine has been prepared by a few of us. It still needs revision, corrections, additions and you may be able to help as it is a Wiki.
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 04:31
It is official, the old Casino in Bagni di Lucca is reopening its doors after many years; however, it is going to be a modern version, more "little Las Vegas" style than its elegant and exclusive predecessor.
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 09:04
A few weeks ago I started a thread in the old forum about this topic. I still think that it would be great if we could all share our favourite recipes which our families and friends enjoy.
Fri, 06/19/2009 - 05:29
I think that there are quite a few members who have married overseas an Italian citizen; however, I am not quite certain whether they have registered their certificate of marriage before the nearest Italian Consulate.It is advisable to do this an
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 03:43
It is most important, if you own a property, to have a clear description for it. That is possible through the "visura catastale" which gives you and confirms many facts regarding your title.
Sun, 06/14/2009 - 05:21
Polenta is one of those Italian dishes that you either love or hate. Considered in the past as the poor people's staple diet it is nowadays served in the best restaurants.
Sat, 06/13/2009 - 17:53
I have just seen on TV some images regarding the Treviso tornado. I sincerely hope that any members in the area have not suffered from this disaster.
Sun, 06/07/2009 - 16:44
The base for many Italian sauces and dishes is the "soffritto" (sofrit in French, sofrito in Spanish), a mixture of some diced vegetables which are cooked in a heavy pan with three tablespoons of olive oil (although some other kinds of oil and fa
Sat, 06/06/2009 - 05:37
Hi everyone, this is a warm invitation to joint this group and discuss Italian food, wine, regional cooking, recipes, tips, cooking utensils, history of cooking and any related subject you may wish to talk about.And welcome, Mimosa, glad to see t
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 08:28
Comments posted
No, Flip. The word I would use is TROLLS. A very suitable one.
The disapproving finger wagging has already been done by the person who initiated this thread. I am only insisting, because it looks as if you do not understand the message. Annoying other members is the name of the game and it looks as if we are the nes who have to tolerate, in silence, silly arguments. No, you , and I mean all of you, never change. What a pain!!!
I think that most of us, including PennyAW who started the thread, would say that the main topic is now closed. If you want to continue quarrelling, may I suggest that you do it through private messages? You could also start a group and there you could have all the arguments, jokes and conversations that you wish without hijacking useful threads.
I also agree with Fillide; however, we should remember that Florence is the city with the highest concentration of art in the world and this is expected to create enormous problems, particularly keeping in mind that it is an old city, totally unprepared to cope with a large influx of people. On the other hand, I don't think that things are that bad. I frequently go to Florence from our home in Bagni di Lucca, where we stay at least twice or three times during the year. We generally drive, parking at Santa Maria Novella and yes, it is expensive, but we consider it a treat, having the possibility of parking right downtown. We could either take a bus, or a train, but we travel with our elderly dog (17 years old!) and it is more convenient this way. Forence scooterists should be called kamikazes, but by now we are used to them and have managed quite well not to run over anyone. I think that some of the tourists may be really annoying and make you wonder why they are visiting that magnificent city when they seem to be totally ignorant and unattached to all the surrounding beauty, but then...not everyone has had the benefits of a good education and, being an optimist, I think that the visit will alwayys do them some good. And then, as Fillide rightly says, there are times of the year when there are less tourists of the annoying kind and there are plenty of lovely places to see and discover... or revisit.
I'm afraid that this particular liqueur has been in existence since the Middle Ages in some regions of Spain and France, namely the Basque Country and Navarre, but also bordering areas. It is called "patxaran" (Google the word and you will find the full story) using "orujo" (similar to grappa) or aniseed as a base. It is quite nice although fairly "lethal" if you drink a lot of it. For this reason, if you insist on giving it a name, I would suggest "sloe down".
Spend a whole morning or afternoon visiting the Palazzo Vecchio. Go for lunch to Trattoria Bordino, near the Ponte Vecchio www.trattoriabordino.com A beautiful old trattoria full of character with the nicest and cheapest (7€) menu of the day in Florence that changes every day. Their Florentine steak, although a bit more expensive, is excellent. And do not forget to visit the Ospedale degli Innocenti, which marks the transition between the Gothic and Renaissance styles.
I agree with Fillide and I can assure you that you will have no trouble finding light switches that will meet high design standards. Italy is at the forefront in design.
I think that the times of "work on the black" are gone and most governments, at least in Europe, are establishing tight controls. In Spain, as from last July, if you employ a cleaner, even for an hour a week, you have to declare it to Social Security and pay all the necessary charges. on the other hand, some employers have decided not to have cleaners, unless absolutely necessary, to avoid the red tape... in times of crisis, the result has been higher unemployment... I would not dream of having cleaners working on the black. If there is the slightest accident the employer will have a nasty judicial problem.
Thank you, Rickardo. But I would not last two seconds....
As Fillide says, Laurel Nobilis grows very well in Tuscany and you find it in many hedges. Bay leaves are also very handy to have for cooking; however, check your local situation regarding planting it. Also check at your local nursery, they should be able to make recommendations.