I recently returned from Japan where I encountered persimmons hung like jewels on leafless branches of the tree, like ornaments. Harvested and strung up in front of Japanese country houses like coral necklaces, this colorful display announces the end of fall and beginning of winter.
A trip to the aromatherapy garden near Marrakech is not only scintillating, but tasty.
Only the essence of what’s left after drying is good enough to press for Vin Santo. Deep honey notes like a kiss on the lips.
On both our trips to Sicily in the Spring and Sicily and the Aeolian Islands in the Fall, we have the opportunity to prepare dishes using traditional Sicilian ingredients, including an expectedly delicious twist on ice cream – with salty, pungent capers.
Capofaro. A whitewashed paradise on the island of Salina in the Aeolian islands off the northeast coast of Sicily. It’s one of those places you want to get away to.
I was in Essaouira, Morocco on 9-11, 2001, drinking tea in a cafe near the beach. I was entertained by this old Moroccan man who came to the bar with his donkey.
Fabio Picchi of Cibreo fame, has realized yet another dream ~ a small organic supermarcato + vivaio (nursery) on the terrazza next to mercato di Sant’Ambrogio. Love at first sight to see an unbelievable variety of fruits all named and spread artfully on the table. I wanted to pull up a chaise and lounge, paint or just study. Plants and seeds are available.
When in New Delhi, India for our Culinary Adventure in Rajasthan, we visit the home of our friends Shoba and Mohan for a family style meal where coconut and coriander chutneys are always favorites. We learn from Shoba some of the dishes that she prepares for her family and she shares some of her favorite recipes with us. While Shoba cooks vegetarian meals, these two delicious chutneys she taught us made with fresh coconut and coriander (cilantro) are simple to prepare and will elevate any meal, vegetarian or not.
Devi Garh, our Palace fortress up above the village waits with a silver thali on a low marble table that looks over the valley, beds with white linens and a view. The food is very similar, just presented differently, yet we are not cut off from one another. We are close and smile and, able to share a kind word.
One man’s temple is another man’s palace. Namaste.
