Need I say more? But yet I will. I’m enjoying a week in Istanbul and one highlight is the availability of real seafood. Unfortunately the “seafood” available in Kiev is more like stinky river fish; only God knows what’s in the water. Istanbul is right on the Sea of Marmara so there is no shortage here. Here I’m enjoying a freshly grilled mackerel sandwich by the sea on a cold and blustery winter’s day, and only $3!
My last supper in Rome was a sad occassion. Italy was the penultimate stop on our trip and it would be a delicious yet meloncoly farewell. Spaghetti and clams tossed in olive oil and butter with garlic, chilli and garnished with chopped parsley. Sigh.
Every red-blooded male derives a certain amount of pleasure from devouring the flesh of a dead bovine; I am no exception. Florence has a big reputation for doing a great steak and I can vouch for that personally. Whilst training from Bologna to Florence we met a nice bloke, who makes a living selling antique watches, and he recommended us a good restaurant for steak. Unfortunately it was closed for August, like most of Italy, but the owner of a neighbouring cafe was able to direct us to the next best kept secret in well-trodden Florence.
Whilst dining at Ro’ Cocco’s in Bologna I took the liberty of creating my own pizza, in collaberation with the the helpful kitchen staff. This pizza is simply tomato puree, fresh porcini mushrooms, parma ham and mozzarella cooked, of course, in a wood fired pizza oven. After one bite I dubbed it Pizza San Paolo, because it’s so lush it’s worthy sainthood.
Emilia-Romagna has to be one of the prime destinations for lovers of fine cuisine. This region is home to such wonderfully aged delicacies as Parma-Ham, Parmigiano Reggiano and traditional balsamic vinegar. The thing that makes these products so special is that they are all aged to bring out amazing flavours and textures that one has to experience to believe. It’s just a question of time before I return.