tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26485008759663669112024-03-20T05:35:40.048+01:00the gondolier's wifevenice, food and livingAngelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-70082777908823312462012-06-04T10:07:00.000+02:002014-01-06T11:07:09.757+01:00The Queen's Venetian Jubilee & Fish Pies and Elderflower Prosecco Cocktail<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
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</style><span style="font-size: large;">It's a place so good, they actually call it great. The loyal subjects of Great Britain are celebrating their Queen's diamond jubilee,
commemorating their her 60 years on the throne. This weekend,
all over the country, they're holding street parties to celebrate
this historic event. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2lEDWf8JRZ8PdZGrnhyphenhyphenadJNNNSl-KzxzlY1hMGnc5NtEbS_3eDRpXKf4ZHwYVKOYvgS3SIl8sVwn_HystflOY-QuuCONDHJ3Mc7t4Yc_CfYf3A9LAxn_3_u9wM45HsMgsEPSujoTWKsM/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2lEDWf8JRZ8PdZGrnhyphenhyphenadJNNNSl-KzxzlY1hMGnc5NtEbS_3eDRpXKf4ZHwYVKOYvgS3SIl8sVwn_HystflOY-QuuCONDHJ3Mc7t4Yc_CfYf3A9LAxn_3_u9wM45HsMgsEPSujoTWKsM/s640/2.JPG" height="486" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to her majesty's little shindig, and the
upcoming Olympic Games, many people are claiming that this will be
Britain's greatest summer ever. Dino and I, have chosen one heck of a
year, to take a short break from Venice, and move to Cornwall - In honor of this
occasion, I've decided to hold my own tea party, and rejoice this
royal milestone, Venice style. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sE5ZvCPBMrzzj1iWd4JilMtU-sDLwM2XFrJCx10gVeUX0BPuuEWuaCmjie4BuvoWTXhSIIZQzhRGVx9nwyNF7KkOkIOBc3QyMVUYHDmsWvwrI9muz4wLw8hsaY88vdFhlgxK_CASq-Ez/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sE5ZvCPBMrzzj1iWd4JilMtU-sDLwM2XFrJCx10gVeUX0BPuuEWuaCmjie4BuvoWTXhSIIZQzhRGVx9nwyNF7KkOkIOBc3QyMVUYHDmsWvwrI9muz4wLw8hsaY88vdFhlgxK_CASq-Ez/s640/5.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Royal Venetian Cocktail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTJZmmZLZqXTzhvpD2O1dqwZPNbHX3xpcCh1QS-DYaWqj4uTkVSbO3txwp8z5FtYwTpNxDKbbDiT0M6dB3m9-UBVOt6fbjBUZ-tctQCM-TLVW23iNG7Q215R6cgs8VCQzfyEXnKzNgZn0/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTJZmmZLZqXTzhvpD2O1dqwZPNbHX3xpcCh1QS-DYaWqj4uTkVSbO3txwp8z5FtYwTpNxDKbbDiT0M6dB3m9-UBVOt6fbjBUZ-tctQCM-TLVW23iNG7Q215R6cgs8VCQzfyEXnKzNgZn0/s640/6.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some of our friends are as old as the Queen</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Using Venetian produce and paying
homage to the Cornish coast, I have prepared Crab and Rocket Pesto Panini,
little Fish Pies and bite-sized Queen Victoria Sponge Cakes, all
washed down with a Royal Cocktail - Prosecco with Elderfower Cordial</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUb7j0OX-4ua_HhNrxK4xmjeTdZ4v1QJI5pHgUg2VUlAOQj12mIaALPhIIapBsx3S7kV3mBgsZT2tQvJjmi_LSIfEejwwhPYTArCtniPyFTUIA5Lo0SbRK3yQq5LSsbMkp1Yk_kkdJWOa/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUb7j0OX-4ua_HhNrxK4xmjeTdZ4v1QJI5pHgUg2VUlAOQj12mIaALPhIIapBsx3S7kV3mBgsZT2tQvJjmi_LSIfEejwwhPYTArCtniPyFTUIA5Lo0SbRK3yQq5LSsbMkp1Yk_kkdJWOa/s640/4.JPG" height="404" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Go to Fish Pie recipe </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">&</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Go to <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.it/p/elderflower-cordial-sciroppo-di-fiori.html">Elderflower Cordial</a> recipe</span></div>
Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-22562573411126111252012-05-27T20:00:00.000+02:002014-01-06T11:06:16.476+01:00The Vogalonga and Butterflied Sardines<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This morning I am a little bit grumpy!
In front of me, is a backed up sink, it is full of sardine heads,
guts, and scales. In the other room I can hear Dino, singing and
whistling and getting all his gear together to set out for the 38th
edition of the annual Vogalonga!!! He is all chirpy, as he gets to
row in the annual event with 7 other fellows, a 32 km regatta,
through the picturesque Venetian lagoon.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VdM-1zWAJ9d19jPyHXxUuIW7f9xxEo8sAYOBoLJBKWIbq4hrnNq3FjowpczC819iRKOPMBdD-FeASBlsumKAsYQp-LqjIsFE3OaXY23bhyphenhyphen5VfAAAYB7y-rEIarEa2cYUI7GYoOyYoIg0/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VdM-1zWAJ9d19jPyHXxUuIW7f9xxEo8sAYOBoLJBKWIbq4hrnNq3FjowpczC819iRKOPMBdD-FeASBlsumKAsYQp-LqjIsFE3OaXY23bhyphenhyphen5VfAAAYB7y-rEIarEa2cYUI7GYoOyYoIg0/s640/2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqTlt0RvuYlpF2lbLgXcdBf890rlEhEUkWIuqAAlHiz_YPQmzcm3osjFcsMqcLqJIygD4WLoCGeEeygI_cq4YwCwkWy9AKwfDH8fR4ZfatrkR5rtYyNWpmKQs0aGXNqtIRg3rVSQgKIzt/s1600/percorso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqTlt0RvuYlpF2lbLgXcdBf890rlEhEUkWIuqAAlHiz_YPQmzcm3osjFcsMqcLqJIygD4WLoCGeEeygI_cq4YwCwkWy9AKwfDH8fR4ZfatrkR5rtYyNWpmKQs0aGXNqtIRg3rVSQgKIzt/s640/percorso.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the rowing marathon route - image taken from www.vogalonga.it</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Naturally, he and his crew
members will be making lots of pit stops along way, eating and
drinking, and becoming merrier as the day progresses. I, on the other
hand, have been assigned the duties of cook, photographer and baggage
carrier. NOT FAIR, RIGHT????</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enough whinging, the Vogalonga is a
famous regatta that began in Venice in 1974, and takes place each
year on a Sunday in May when, for a few hours, the suffocating
traffic of motorized boats ceases, and the water is left alone to the
oars. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAu4EM2RNH_4_zwhfW-g6FzwO4gRQxPuUUs9aDJzjJDrVe4vXnwOzklYZu3_9Ct6fg2u3nVgCA94ZOUYNlWWYqwAcuX9htWK_2Ud-N0OT0mqBaTXOC2TlRTIt8IwM8MmNrXgAO7SzWfuX/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAu4EM2RNH_4_zwhfW-g6FzwO4gRQxPuUUs9aDJzjJDrVe4vXnwOzklYZu3_9Ct6fg2u3nVgCA94ZOUYNlWWYqwAcuX9htWK_2Ud-N0OT0mqBaTXOC2TlRTIt8IwM8MmNrXgAO7SzWfuX/s640/3.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rush hour in Venice</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Loads of foreigners arrive and bring all kinds of vessels which
ONLY move by means of sheer human strength. The foreigners seem to
always have the event summed up quite appropriately, they are happy,
smiley and sincerely want to save Venice from the wrath of motor
boats. Most Venetians on the other hand, tend to moan and groan about
how, on this one day, the public transport service is disrupted!
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3aZJMpB9yzyD11Au_Q0OmYkazD2xI0E9qiBs7_fvvp3MffaEsHgxEESEeUCwgbcjVtqzhBXBbODsAlSf5LeIXq7t1D31mZejwYxl_u8qRi6hs25mMdwrvoR9_Qo-Vq998POKm_i464ia/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3aZJMpB9yzyD11Au_Q0OmYkazD2xI0E9qiBs7_fvvp3MffaEsHgxEESEeUCwgbcjVtqzhBXBbODsAlSf5LeIXq7t1D31mZejwYxl_u8qRi6hs25mMdwrvoR9_Qo-Vq998POKm_i464ia/s640/6.JPG" height="640" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there's my little Dino</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nevertheless, our fabulous Venetian
friends, who simply adore Venice, take to this event each year and
really make it super special. This year we are back at our Rowing
Club at the Giudecca, and each family has the task of bringing along
something to devour after the 3 – 4, and sometimes, 12 hour
event. There will pasta, fish, sauteed vegetables, and desserts.
I am bringing along Sarde Impanate (Crumbed Butterflied Sardines),
they are really light and crunchy and as we all know, oily fish are
just so flavoursome.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PL8aiIGdDqUAse0TRq303Amk_GqAlL3-fcILStrG4W8tXlQsLaAoC-VS4t4Egso89qlWx2rqM_LcbXHqNWzW3UmVegLba1dNGmW_aD8GDZwOK668yZbJ4LJJKYBOxW4a6xvGG5Di6_4K/s1600/cat+and+sardine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PL8aiIGdDqUAse0TRq303Amk_GqAlL3-fcILStrG4W8tXlQsLaAoC-VS4t4Egso89qlWx2rqM_LcbXHqNWzW3UmVegLba1dNGmW_aD8GDZwOK668yZbJ4LJJKYBOxW4a6xvGG5Di6_4K/s640/cat+and+sardine.JPG" height="450" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ginger, our neighbourhood cat, also loves succulent sardines</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thus, as this day comes to a close, I sip on a very cold Prosecco, whilst still trying to
remove the last few sardine scales from my hair... they just seem to
fly everywhere. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2j9pGbvghmSKHaljMVjc8lxjqMNaZTS24NCrqwrSPRs_Lhyc6csB8MFBrKS52bA_3XyW5SyZNkXb_GaglZFZ0vF1h50aEByeZkiAz9ulun22g9gdJqtgjjNoSJvxIxzRshFMjdMVKnCL/s1600/DSCF2867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2j9pGbvghmSKHaljMVjc8lxjqMNaZTS24NCrqwrSPRs_Lhyc6csB8MFBrKS52bA_3XyW5SyZNkXb_GaglZFZ0vF1h50aEByeZkiAz9ulun22g9gdJqtgjjNoSJvxIxzRshFMjdMVKnCL/s640/DSCF2867.JPG" height="432" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Go to <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.it/p/crumbed-butterflied-sardines-sarde.html">Crumbed Butterflied Sardines</a> recipe</span></div>
Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-15621642125201625842012-05-07T10:38:00.000+02:002013-12-30T15:20:25.376+01:00Moving to Cornwall & Asparagus and Free Range Eggs<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> THE GONDOLIER'S WIFE and her diminutive husband <span style="font-size: large;">are going on a little trip</span> <span style="font-size: large;">to sunny England and even sunnier Wales.</span> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9l0Sa5HIXldbyfm2Q-wmfRjVRC_XZsAc2QCbi6Q2Zqyty83jT-irKnhtr4K54VZYBZ_25QtQZo-DfUPbt2PyrOi35hzmiSadKDp1PyVCQKirxdWQ6KMbHOMaaM0cxS0IkePyhyw2PX3v3/s1600/2a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9l0Sa5HIXldbyfm2Q-wmfRjVRC_XZsAc2QCbi6Q2Zqyty83jT-irKnhtr4K54VZYBZ_25QtQZo-DfUPbt2PyrOi35hzmiSadKDp1PyVCQKirxdWQ6KMbHOMaaM0cxS0IkePyhyw2PX3v3/s640/2a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a view over fabulous Fowey</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“What?” I hear you say. “Leave splendid Venezia, just as the s<span style="font-size: large;">eason</span> is starting, for
dreary old blighty? It's usually the Brits goin<span style="font-size: large;">g</span> to Italy in the summer<span style="font-size: large;">, not</span> other way round!”<span style="font-size: large;"> I'm sorry to <span style="font-size: large;">disappoint</span> you, but I<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>haven't told you every thing about my <span style="font-size: large;">paddling </span>husband. <span style="font-size: large;">N</span>ot only is he a <span style="font-size: large;">fifth</span> generation gondolier, but he<span style="font-size: large;"> comes from a family of artists. My little Dino <span style="font-size: large;">creates <span style="font-size: large;">whimsical paintings</span> </span>and <span style="font-size: large;">sculptures</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">. W</span>e had a gallery in Venice, for quite a few years called, ART FOR SERIOUS PEOPLE. I decided to create my blog after</span> we closed<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">, </span></span>but I can see that Dino </span>is<span style="font-size: large;"> about to pop </span>with creativity. So we're going to do some exhibitions in Cornwall, on the west cost of England. </span>We are going to<span style="font-size: large;"> be staying </span>in a fabulously, friendly little
Cornish harbour town, called Fowey, that we fell in love with <span style="font-size: large;">on a previously trip</span>. She is an absolute delight. Believe it or not, there
are <span style="font-size: large;">plenty</span> <span style="font-size: large;">of </span>culinary similarities that the Venetian lagoon and the
Cornish coast share.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-WDBcjxYlhyphenhyphenNTspmeOuBP2BoZ0TNw7v2WIMDblZdORDXzCtI5nKLJRarjDsJrGvhHHxFD5sP5AO89FWULchcJcNSU4vBkTOddgR_4vO0vB5aByOUig3tjzUQO7t03hN6L1W6uQLtB3uy/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-WDBcjxYlhyphenhyphenNTspmeOuBP2BoZ0TNw7v2WIMDblZdORDXzCtI5nKLJRarjDsJrGvhHHxFD5sP5AO89FWULchcJcNSU4vBkTOddgR_4vO0vB5aByOUig3tjzUQO7t03hN6L1W6uQLtB3uy/s640/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fields of gold</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first thing we noticed, as we
headed out of London and into the gorgeous British countryside, were
the radiant fields of yellow rape seed flowers, they seem to be grow
it in every corner of the country. Cruising through the swathes of
gold really brightens up the journey. Our trip also coincided with
the British asparagus season, but driving around we didn't seem to be
able to see any place that grew any. It's only when you get out of
the car and look closer, that a plot of apparent mud, miraculously
transforms itself into a garden, full of green and purple spears
spurting up from the ground.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd6rjojIiA7DZ6L583OigVS4ExXr36qzbxtCCv0Enw0_QoJusQNqQ3V0PzA96KyktVlMgtZ2n0xF_vifBPVQZiT9N-WnFeUtnN-ICAFe7jqJ_TrtwHe3xaHfVWJMfc_l59vJ-l36fZ1wg/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd6rjojIiA7DZ6L583OigVS4ExXr36qzbxtCCv0Enw0_QoJusQNqQ3V0PzA96KyktVlMgtZ2n0xF_vifBPVQZiT9N-WnFeUtnN-ICAFe7jqJ_TrtwHe3xaHfVWJMfc_l59vJ-l36fZ1wg/s640/5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">slow food...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone kept telling us that English
Asparagus is the best in the world, (they say the same thing in
Italy, about theirs) so on our <span style="font-size: large;">way to <span style="font-size: large;">Cornwall, </span>I couldn't resist stopping by </span>a lovely road
side seller and <span style="font-size: large;">relieving him of </span>some his fresh eggs and a beautiful big bunch of asparagus spears.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrlDt33J9ArSuoQOuVLNb-0glr0Kt-QArefP0BjsC6u5nVMuwDdIp_-Ikazn0qP2DvXCA2omCkuQzSwHCW8wmuUPUevaocmbniQfRhF5WI87yQfhZrv_D7Q1xL1LUs2vPF_x7EYd-g3ax/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrlDt33J9ArSuoQOuVLNb-0glr0Kt-QArefP0BjsC6u5nVMuwDdIp_-Ikazn0qP2DvXCA2omCkuQzSwHCW8wmuUPUevaocmbniQfRhF5WI87yQfhZrv_D7Q1xL1LUs2vPF_x7EYd-g3ax/s640/7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Go to <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.it/p/with-some-super-extra-loving-care.html">Asparagus with Free Range Soft Boiled Eggs</a> recipe. </span></div>
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Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-19251899362767258312012-04-26T20:40:00.000+02:002012-04-29T20:48:54.986+02:00Regatta of the Gondola Stations & Cuttlefish in its Black Ink<style type="text/css">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once again this year, due to his lack
of power and height, my husband Dino, failed to be one of the
gondoliers chosen to represent his gondola station, against the nine
other stations, in the traditional Regata dei Traghetti (Regatta of
the Gondola Stations). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PXg0uBGNpa_ZJjMX57_5cHPRDdPSeb7TDSb91D40EsrMo1Cx55Y1jFm3QTGzjkh2gCVJ8ZPYallRtBwYAQO_Ss2BDyIWd6Gi4AWUBTbRcCNTRud8Q70i-Kih3MfxrncJsKHQ_ux2a8SV/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PXg0uBGNpa_ZJjMX57_5cHPRDdPSeb7TDSb91D40EsrMo1Cx55Y1jFm3QTGzjkh2gCVJ8ZPYallRtBwYAQO_Ss2BDyIWd6Gi4AWUBTbRcCNTRud8Q70i-Kih3MfxrncJsKHQ_ux2a8SV/s640/1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every April 25<sup>th</sup>, the day of Saint
Mark, Dino silently seethes with Napoleon syndrome, as we cheer on the
top rowers of Venice as they splash past us in their colourful racing
gondolas, chasing the title of the fastest traghetto in town.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5Z0bWbvWDWYVPkfe9V4uSFygrpnefZ6J-1vvGsBWMGWh0W3h3w640mP6X8rCvDISQZUEDbPpg0_pAdbgBmRQcmqq3Q52oebpxciVRIxRsfgP6RQUiqb8YZZIkIdNr5ykY4a1r2VjtKzJ/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5Z0bWbvWDWYVPkfe9V4uSFygrpnefZ6J-1vvGsBWMGWh0W3h3w640mP6X8rCvDISQZUEDbPpg0_pAdbgBmRQcmqq3Q52oebpxciVRIxRsfgP6RQUiqb8YZZIkIdNr5ykY4a1r2VjtKzJ/s640/3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the colourful racing gondolas splash by us</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjNoEmx6EZ-3BADmQzblISwF4jG62UK-MLKfcCtbR6RRaAEU-wvJEHGIIioWsF8JSNWQ8LUszpVHNwxOnDc4KHxLfMzXoKHJOZsmIL0HPyYW9N-9fBlXZ985XUYEWWO8uhQBvClBJF0tY/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjNoEmx6EZ-3BADmQzblISwF4jG62UK-MLKfcCtbR6RRaAEU-wvJEHGIIioWsF8JSNWQ8LUszpVHNwxOnDc4KHxLfMzXoKHJOZsmIL0HPyYW9N-9fBlXZ985XUYEWWO8uhQBvClBJF0tY/s640/4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another integral part the event is the
<i>DISNAR</i> (the traditional pre-race dinner), which happens a few nights
before the regatta. This years participating athletes enjoyed a four
course meal.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEo0ohod4BLsJ5XPtLkLbbbPOI6R2er9BNzfdtrnFLditCz7KyAG5Mmxf1930oGuA_kiHUq3DZn96A-I-HtvdMsgrOrUpNuw95rugGSfAVJDId1hoDFgxlsfN1f6-7R62LxFezBfZaJa4/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEo0ohod4BLsJ5XPtLkLbbbPOI6R2er9BNzfdtrnFLditCz7KyAG5Mmxf1930oGuA_kiHUq3DZn96A-I-HtvdMsgrOrUpNuw95rugGSfAVJDId1hoDFgxlsfN1f6-7R62LxFezBfZaJa4/s640/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It consisted of: Scallops, followed by Cuttlefish in its Ink Sauce with Polenta as appetizers, then a Risotto with Sea Bass, Scampi and Zucchini, and finally Oven Baked Sea Bream with Spring Vegetables, washed down with plenty of local Pinot Grigio.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The reason why the dinner happens a few nights before the race, is due to the copious amount of food and alcohol consumed, thus the rowing champs need a few days to recover!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3GEsZPLWrPCUXD88ROmMOiX5OWi1lyElcqlpApANK6Y15-8cRZA93bG8xR3N8F7PB1NtGaRbe_teH-O66m8-6CmqPku_8rS7jo6Ysf-pTPpqMqYMLPO1TEkIAPTOCyeN96JcHhe_30C4/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3GEsZPLWrPCUXD88ROmMOiX5OWi1lyElcqlpApANK6Y15-8cRZA93bG8xR3N8F7PB1NtGaRbe_teH-O66m8-6CmqPku_8rS7jo6Ysf-pTPpqMqYMLPO1TEkIAPTOCyeN96JcHhe_30C4/s640/5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Go to <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.it/p/cuttlefish-in-its-black-ink-seppie-in.html">Cuttlefish in its Black Ink</a> recipe.</span><br />
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<br /></div>Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-89515298224245269372012-04-24T17:59:00.002+02:002012-04-24T18:33:55.827+02:00Our Dirty Little Secret & Rice and Peas<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Risi e Bisi (Rice and Peas in Venetian
dialect) was the official dish served to the Doge of Venice, every
25<sup>th</sup> of April, the feast day of Saint Mark, Venice's
patron saint. It was also an occasion to celebrate the beginning of
spring, farmers from the lagoon islands, would compete for the honor
of providing the seasons very first peas for the Doge and his
illustrious guests. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBEg4lbxMkvg9IFIDDTxE4veczP3RXcsNFFTH84P3BkxLJwRlolpTSeuS5GFFVR_y66gfgjcJICkoZFo0ecbJLHMfvqxTNL1BuY8goP-N5WDINNuh9NNT0ZDEPr3AToOjoGZWGVd3St0T/s1600/DSCF1892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBEg4lbxMkvg9IFIDDTxE4veczP3RXcsNFFTH84P3BkxLJwRlolpTSeuS5GFFVR_y66gfgjcJICkoZFo0ecbJLHMfvqxTNL1BuY8goP-N5WDINNuh9NNT0ZDEPr3AToOjoGZWGVd3St0T/s640/DSCF1892.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">good enough for the Doge of Venice</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes not enough peas had ripened for this
date, therefore a reserve consignment from elsewhere would be on
hand, probably to save some poor lagoon gardener's head from being
chopped off by a hungry Doge!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dino and I are very lucky to have a
small <i>ORTO</i> (allotment), and we planted our peas back in February. It
is just so beautiful to follow their progress from when they first
burst up from the ground, to finally picking and eating these lovely
little green globes. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmH7vetlJoawdLUV_iK9Nlux2Pod4PJ2TbZSHptb2FMclh_atCIVUyen7FGV_4kRU5CihyQ1JiDJSYUneRONimZ0rYxZ9O7LVH4oZpAn59v8rw7QP7zJRfbTP_yDz3FojfNAJM8MEoPGt8/s1600/DSCF1097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmH7vetlJoawdLUV_iK9Nlux2Pod4PJ2TbZSHptb2FMclh_atCIVUyen7FGV_4kRU5CihyQ1JiDJSYUneRONimZ0rYxZ9O7LVH4oZpAn59v8rw7QP7zJRfbTP_yDz3FojfNAJM8MEoPGt8/s640/DSCF1097.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our little darlings in February</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My husband has only a very basic grasp of
mathematics, this leads him to be quite generous and frivolous, except when
it comes to his precious produce, it brings out a stinginess in him
I've never seen before... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few years ago, all our friends kept
badgering him about when were we going to eat Risi e Bisi, obviously
using his new peas, but the garden gods had not been kind to him that
year, and he just couldn't part with the few prized peas he had, so
he made me prepare the dish for our voracious venetian chums with
peas bought from the markets, pretending that they were his home
grown ones! Our dirty little secret is out, and I'm feeling bette</span><span style="font-size: large;">r
already. </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljsgRm5iSN9mg0fEc5eKFVJY_XVFfGH_NvwEYqwzaeq5LzWKDtlvzpKmCTSbsjnkZp3S-3D8jZpBAdMrANK5vMFPNLoNdjK9u-b3r_dkAnxB71juXtGT0cyGfubklN-JXT3uD0lNuQUOX/s1600/DSCF2124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljsgRm5iSN9mg0fEc5eKFVJY_XVFfGH_NvwEYqwzaeq5LzWKDtlvzpKmCTSbsjnkZp3S-3D8jZpBAdMrANK5vMFPNLoNdjK9u-b3r_dkAnxB71juXtGT0cyGfubklN-JXT3uD0lNuQUOX/s640/DSCF2124.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">his precious produce!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Go to <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.it/p/rice-and-peas-risi-e-bisi.html">Rice with Peas</a> recip</span><span style="font-size: large;">e</span><br />
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<br /></div>Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-12022417974906362402012-04-01T20:47:00.000+02:002012-04-19T18:47:41.804+02:00Vineyard Naturalist & Linguine with Clams<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Your
intrepid reporter <i>THE GONDOLIER'S WIFE</i> is an avowed naturalist, be it
on the Lido beach, or in the vineyard. That's why I find myself
inside the majestic Villa Favorita, in the Veneto countryside, sipping a glass of torbid prosecco. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJGgAflidpqlmyPBBng6HnvKGYxxz1qAGz3tS52r2_gy6-8dZCQ0N4794ew2io8J1ka0J9CtnY_v5b1kPEiGqfeOij9U4GnFdO4NsIne-SIdsmen-G9-0xc_1SJ5QfWJn2Z2-ItexQgHq/s1600/DSCF1436.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJGgAflidpqlmyPBBng6HnvKGYxxz1qAGz3tS52r2_gy6-8dZCQ0N4794ew2io8J1ka0J9CtnY_v5b1kPEiGqfeOij9U4GnFdO4NsIne-SIdsmen-G9-0xc_1SJ5QfWJn2Z2-ItexQgHq/s640/DSCF1436.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a Villa full of wine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Dino and I, plus our friend, </span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Giorgio, </span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">a big time wine buff, are here for VinNatur. A wine
extravaganza showcasing naturally crafted wines, produced by wine
makers who believe in minimal intervention, organic or biodynamic
methods in the vineyard, and definitely no chemicals or additives used
in the wine making process. Their aim is to rediscover the true
flavour of wine, by capturing the unique sense of place, where it was
grown, (the French call this concept, terroir).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">I've already tried a
Sauvignon Blanc, like no other I've ever tasted, produced in the
Czech Republic, plus a superb Pinot Grigio from Slovenia, as well as
natural wines from all over Italy. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9jhUVgDX8kWv-JX6Qp51GR7C_zXQ1oiKFYYjZlFMzGRFC7YEv_FnLPhM_AWQuPK784HBVIH03yQ6ZIWrPs2NoCm7bK4kWdkRM-w-U-TwwmIIbbtyKvyT87IloU0uH7doWhwzjPUoE3iq/s1600/DSCF1384.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9jhUVgDX8kWv-JX6Qp51GR7C_zXQ1oiKFYYjZlFMzGRFC7YEv_FnLPhM_AWQuPK784HBVIH03yQ6ZIWrPs2NoCm7bK4kWdkRM-w-U-TwwmIIbbtyKvyT87IloU0uH7doWhwzjPUoE3iq/s640/DSCF1384.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Some
of these traditionally made
wines, have certain qualities, that remind me of the rustic bottles
brought to our family home as gifts, by friends and
relatives, when I was growing up in Australia. You have to remember,
that when the first Italian immigrants arrived down under in the
fifties and sixties, it was hard for them to find the produce
and foodstuffs they craved. Therefore, back gardens were turned into
mini farms. That's probably one of the reasons why Australian
cricket champions with Italian last names are a rarity. In fact, most
ball games were a no-no in Italian back yards crammed full with ripening
tomatoes, precious zucchini plants,
delicate fig trees, and the odd chicken. I even have vague memories
of milking a goat my grandmother kept, when I was a little girl. And
I'll tell you this, that goat was not the pet I thought it was!!! As
sure as the Pope was Italian, it ended in my nonna's pot. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Anyhow,
the glass of torbid prosecco I'm holding, is the creation of the
bow-tie wearing Mauro Lorenzon, legendary owner of "<i>Enoiteca Mascareta</i>"
in Venice, plus <i>"Costadila"</i> vineyard in the Treviso hills. It's cloudy
appearance is achieved by his preference for leaving the lees, or
sediment, in the bottle "to add flavour and texture". He explains
that you have to "<i>ricominciamo dal fondo, pescando nel torbido, per
vederci chiaro</i>" (start from the bottom, searching through
murkiness, to see ourselves clearly). Whatever the hell that
means?? </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVymmPtZc5xrNimeOsYwWlewL001S0nZyxz2Y4RFkDkMh88SSocKxt-Zjzo0zolHBNHZvjHU3rpbUH0GVmiFel3oShDSlUCrduL8-nZd2SGgP4VlE4c0DzCfykJucE-CQMdFi9FEV0SA70/s1600/DSCF1402.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVymmPtZc5xrNimeOsYwWlewL001S0nZyxz2Y4RFkDkMh88SSocKxt-Zjzo0zolHBNHZvjHU3rpbUH0GVmiFel3oShDSlUCrduL8-nZd2SGgP4VlE4c0DzCfykJucE-CQMdFi9FEV0SA70/s640/DSCF1402.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">real prosecco</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmDZtbmRjCyF2po7sVNVOPzyFLLzfKOABjrlS2piPGXInvcvAr-LBLmtCc-znEUKmXhSWGRq3TJoJ0utFEw33SQtauuBzfRo7l3LtGRFunvaC41gDqsClEbZXyRANpdE9pVRSOq5eNZyn/s1600/DSCF1526.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmDZtbmRjCyF2po7sVNVOPzyFLLzfKOABjrlS2piPGXInvcvAr-LBLmtCc-znEUKmXhSWGRq3TJoJ0utFEw33SQtauuBzfRo7l3LtGRFunvaC41gDqsClEbZXyRANpdE9pVRSOq5eNZyn/s640/DSCF1526.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">He also informs me that his prosecco can be drunk three ways,
either cloudy, semi-cloudy or clear. Each way you'll have a different
taste experience. I think the ideal terroir to drink his "real
prosecco" as he calls it, could well be inside his venetian
bar/restaurant, and that's exactly what we did the following night,
with a heavenly plate of <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.it/p/liguine-with-clams.html">linguine con vongole (linguine with clams).</a> By the way, if my mother is reading this post, I'm only a
naturalist in the vineyard, not on the beach, I was just trying to
sound exciting... sorry Marie. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZF7wiCUNvqhV8yIJEslW5Tt4CSRdFZmE80L4omRihUMRNr5Q1DHZTGXeFxNqYlB4UlRDZi6GsB-4tqo6hKhMZqD8-6rebq18rIX2NOT4-9I2JZFrTlYGCU9bbY4TT88wb10q7WPnD3ty/s1600/DSCF1760.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZF7wiCUNvqhV8yIJEslW5Tt4CSRdFZmE80L4omRihUMRNr5Q1DHZTGXeFxNqYlB4UlRDZi6GsB-4tqo6hKhMZqD8-6rebq18rIX2NOT4-9I2JZFrTlYGCU9bbY4TT88wb10q7WPnD3ty/s640/DSCF1760.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Go to <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.it/p/liguine-with-clams.html">Linguine with Clams</a> recipe</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-89459158929594725642012-03-26T19:58:00.000+02:002012-04-19T18:47:59.212+02:00The Cholesterol Rowing Regatta & Sardines with Onions<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Glorious springtime Italian Style, has
finally arrived in Venice, just in time for the first social regatta
of the year.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HKpwDRCbCxtnzW61iJpqOfo3GvcMmbl9XSWoj85qaPN1e9ijqMcf7XQSY-_RZu2XFShXpDlEgmhmWn2Lb5ZfbxaWrQDUDTsYRzyPKsFC3NnsOUAeY85F_A3Vucw8iqC7x63KC16MzQ3z/s1600/DSCF1374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HKpwDRCbCxtnzW61iJpqOfo3GvcMmbl9XSWoj85qaPN1e9ijqMcf7XQSY-_RZu2XFShXpDlEgmhmWn2Lb5ZfbxaWrQDUDTsYRzyPKsFC3NnsOUAeY85F_A3Vucw8iqC7x63KC16MzQ3z/s640/DSCF1374.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">La Regata Del Colestorolo (The
Cholesterol Rowing Regatta) is held at the rowing club Canottieri
Giudecca, on the island of Giudecca, and is the crazy invention of
our friend Claudio who's nicknamed “Puffo” (which means smurf in
Italian). It is a sporting event with a twist, as the diminutive and
very wicked Puffo has decided not only should we engage in the
customary eating and drinking AFTER the race has finished, but there
should be a delightfully rich lunch, immediately BEFORE the race
starts!!
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rQEsrzya6qdvRur6v11tLKIdnl_p63-os6Dk8mCI0zMJKFlA2K4DNgK_AlBm3JP-SusNXTPCccTUSsnyOpMGn-xf7gEl4TUlBX7IszVhWmppKJeCSxQhzSQT3uf1R5Gr5xi-TDn_NeHD/s1600/DSCF1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rQEsrzya6qdvRur6v11tLKIdnl_p63-os6Dk8mCI0zMJKFlA2K4DNgK_AlBm3JP-SusNXTPCccTUSsnyOpMGn-xf7gEl4TUlBX7IszVhWmppKJeCSxQhzSQT3uf1R5Gr5xi-TDn_NeHD/s640/DSCF1222.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the end of the razor clams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Knowing this, I have prepared the
classic Venetian boatman's dishes of <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.it/p/sardines-with-onions.html">Sarde in Saor</a> and Scampi in Saor
(Sardines with Onions & Scampi with Onions) for appetizers. Our friend Massimo (the self proclaimed king of the barbeque) downs a glass of wine after putting the finishing touches to some freshly caught grilled cape lunghe (razor clams), served with lemon wedges. Also on offer, are pizzetta, omelette, a pasta dish, barbecued
meats, free flowing wine (obligatory), followed by coffee and fiery
home made grappa. Being the Cholesterol Rowing Regatta, fatty,
artery blocking sausage and salame are used as liberally as possible,
even the salad had chopped up grilled sausage in it!
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zw7oi-ftQO-BcZvunq_t-0YzCIXhnkkRV37nJKGkvQwM1m7R29TF80a4Zk30PqvyI_P7e8s-EyQmS8fb_-UddVfuZG_gi2uf28KFHSzTQ8G2QMNdehSIiIpdsACqYpLq3g-gbAJV2-fS/s1600/DSCF1247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zw7oi-ftQO-BcZvunq_t-0YzCIXhnkkRV37nJKGkvQwM1m7R29TF80a4Zk30PqvyI_P7e8s-EyQmS8fb_-UddVfuZG_gi2uf28KFHSzTQ8G2QMNdehSIiIpdsACqYpLq3g-gbAJV2-fS/s640/DSCF1247.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carb loading before the event!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA81dpFlnbQkruh5hxKT7F4_TjVA_2v-rnnJ8oMdqslbED2WitwSUTqB088ulZRzJ7SAiqE49g_6RxB7cNas7hD9CHRsmT8mW8IsHz8YvDNXTWYRfs8sGCeorsw6O4oUKLg3kAqDTB5LvI/s1600/DSCF1277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA81dpFlnbQkruh5hxKT7F4_TjVA_2v-rnnJ8oMdqslbED2WitwSUTqB088ulZRzJ7SAiqE49g_6RxB7cNas7hD9CHRsmT8mW8IsHz8YvDNXTWYRfs8sGCeorsw6O4oUKLg3kAqDTB5LvI/s640/DSCF1277.JPG" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one for the road...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">The last grappa is downed, 10 wooden rowing boats
are lowered softly into the sea, followed by 20 overstuffed, oar wielding, athletes of all ages and both sexes. After three false starts, because Massimo, usually a very skilled gondolier, and rowing instructor, is not able to get his boat pointing in the right direction, the race commences. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-6qepyTLc9p4lqGi5fqZ5CUYP219a1mGAMr8b5-dAaIx4VbHlnU4S2xjtF-bbh51fN1lceiXmjKLtY_KVMjfB6bS9x0jdDPmPmNhU06PWVS3lZWaoOHPrcX6wmhRc1pIVlTeoPQIbZ8Q/s1600/DSCF1349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-6qepyTLc9p4lqGi5fqZ5CUYP219a1mGAMr8b5-dAaIx4VbHlnU4S2xjtF-bbh51fN1lceiXmjKLtY_KVMjfB6bS9x0jdDPmPmNhU06PWVS3lZWaoOHPrcX6wmhRc1pIVlTeoPQIbZ8Q/s640/DSCF1349.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Almost immediately, the first collisions happen, threats and much swearing would be the norm if this was a real regatta, but in todays event, it's just smiles and jokes about the strength of the grappa. Eventually, the stretched bellied boatmen reach the half way stage, Dino with his partner Luca, take advantage of an entangled group of boats in front of them, and move from sixth place to fourth, and stay that way until they come puffing past the finish line. In Venetian rowing races, tradition dictates that only the first four positions are awarded prizes, so by coming in fourth, my weary limbed husband and his partner have won themselves a blue flag for their twenty-odd minutes of punishing paddling. The not so sweaty but definitely thirsty, Massimo and his partner finally come in last,
he's been telling jokes, and singing opera for the entire duration of
the race, and claims victory, saying, in this type of regatta, last place is actually first. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIKRDSuyOBS8gPAbzbGnr9sadofOlVPbIHwHt3peEeILzcVzKH0fq1Cc0zVv6fQxQi7qcGSZ5uLgJiVGjqzLmZnP7BitRIBZUzO67P7jVoIlrIpV5Z0V0px7ViBUHJuwKgftR-V7Ym318/s1600/DSCF1376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIKRDSuyOBS8gPAbzbGnr9sadofOlVPbIHwHt3peEeILzcVzKH0fq1Cc0zVv6fQxQi7qcGSZ5uLgJiVGjqzLmZnP7BitRIBZUzO67P7jVoIlrIpV5Z0V0px7ViBUHJuwKgftR-V7Ym318/s640/DSCF1376.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">massimo heads for the bar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Go to the <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.it/p/sardines-with-onions.html">Sardines with Onion</a> recipe </span></div>Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-10685370445738741562012-03-10T20:44:00.000+01:002012-05-30T22:19:52.261+02:00The Launching of the "Angelina" & Bean and Pasta Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today was a very special milestone in
the career of my paddling husband, it was the day of the launching
of his brand new gondola. Tradition dictates, that a new boat takes
on a female name, and with no pressure at all from me, he's called
her the <i>"ANGELINA</i>". </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Usually the name is engraved on stainless
steel bands at the front of the Gondola, which are screwed in, and
therefore can be just as easily unscrewed, if a name change is
required. Not my Dino! He's had my name brazenly carved into a wooden
section at the stern, like a sailors tattoo, never to be removed,
now my friends... THAT'S AMORE. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDYUH3wKd4wQjlNQGfpwKYBUCzUl4DPz5omRrhqjo8DPs_meKAp_atkaTRjw4_VUHSHmZsxAHSPgD4SsJAoK9wdy9t2KdbyrS80_n2W0NZxEDDqJXWWKQPuIJdylq7Io7OchyphenhyphenKwtW1KJA/s1600/1+the+angelina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDYUH3wKd4wQjlNQGfpwKYBUCzUl4DPz5omRrhqjo8DPs_meKAp_atkaTRjw4_VUHSHmZsxAHSPgD4SsJAoK9wdy9t2KdbyrS80_n2W0NZxEDDqJXWWKQPuIJdylq7Io7OchyphenhyphenKwtW1KJA/s640/1+the+angelina.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">never to be removed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It took place at the squero (boatyard)
of Roberto Dei Rossi, one of only 4 remaining master boat builders
left in Venice. He has been building these flat bottomed time
machines for over 40 years. Roberto needed roughly 500 hours to cut,
fit and assemble all the 280 pieces it takes to construct this wooden
venetian jigsaw puzzle, making what is, one of the oldest surviving
forms of transport in the world. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7CINJXugCTQXeRX_a2szKhnR9rwHBC80z44px5rK_26hWOunLQ6Oilvg5GVHfOw1WzoQSXIdpDA2nlSKFRYkf0ePAlIll7JFyYh3beG-tppNQr596N_bZbOaMARodZa-gcHZh-s4LDrB/s1600/2+dino+and+prosecco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7CINJXugCTQXeRX_a2szKhnR9rwHBC80z44px5rK_26hWOunLQ6Oilvg5GVHfOw1WzoQSXIdpDA2nlSKFRYkf0ePAlIll7JFyYh3beG-tppNQr596N_bZbOaMARodZa-gcHZh-s4LDrB/s640/2+dino+and+prosecco.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dino christens the "Angelina"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDY43AWPMWU1iRHPDv_OwkmLjgQyBItffb7_M5X_iRvzK1dEzaSUaxx73_GgO5l8GPFubDriOMwwvgXKRmchvsyw7mnke4IKbLPIu2s0Een7OlqgF4r21zOquyz3oXeB3ZloOPN82MA_g/s1600/4+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDY43AWPMWU1iRHPDv_OwkmLjgQyBItffb7_M5X_iRvzK1dEzaSUaxx73_GgO5l8GPFubDriOMwwvgXKRmchvsyw7mnke4IKbLPIu2s0Een7OlqgF4r21zOquyz3oXeB3ZloOPN82MA_g/s640/4+table.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As I tried to keep everybody's glass
full, people would congratulate me (for what? I didn't do anything) I
received kisses on both cheeks from relatives and friends. A group of
salty old gondoliers said the "Angelina" was a real beauty. "You talking about the boat, or the lady?" I responded, like some sort of
Venetian Mae West. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3ykYv6dGqwsV36fyjoYgwjLMrEzJvFqzCF799DoRZ8XsMZeQjJnoy1gYq9LkPHQxoU-gS14iMFyAXJ2V_x5ss2LJ-yfgQr2qFvEwMKFbQJAK__eDmruGK4eCgWl3je8DfowIkdo5dTMe/s1600/3a+paolo+and+gondola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3ykYv6dGqwsV36fyjoYgwjLMrEzJvFqzCF799DoRZ8XsMZeQjJnoy1gYq9LkPHQxoU-gS14iMFyAXJ2V_x5ss2LJ-yfgQr2qFvEwMKFbQJAK__eDmruGK4eCgWl3je8DfowIkdo5dTMe/s640/3a+paolo+and+gondola.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paolo test drives the "Angelina"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The priest anointed her with holy water, then
Dino christened the new-born boat with a foamy whack of a Prosecco
bottle especially made by a friend, for the occasion. The "Angelina"
was lowered into the sea for the first time, and glasses were raised
to her health. Every social gathering in Italy is always accompanied
by food and drink, and today's celebration was no different.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcHlcf6gQaxJjJiEYuSS1p8Aplt1asI60kzqmgtXhiY4lPEzjHq4GHIDhiuKZsHJWwmzWhoYrNwkdVve43XiSCNstK8towgsFIjriTsM17oGZMebxh8HdVan61w_6XbzrlhADD-8ozDMS/s1600/5+salame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcHlcf6gQaxJjJiEYuSS1p8Aplt1asI60kzqmgtXhiY4lPEzjHq4GHIDhiuKZsHJWwmzWhoYrNwkdVve43XiSCNstK8towgsFIjriTsM17oGZMebxh8HdVan61w_6XbzrlhADD-8ozDMS/s640/5+salame.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFk3bMotucnMRnsxi3ZxKWTvghq0jTRRnceMQ4TgSvQ3A2Wq2If02RzitPlhxg_BuNFivfrCMRXTiQz3iBhOaZjNkZVJ6gaCDlO5PYwMdcwQX93qDQgGxX0ZrJBgroGodVVQc5j_6TVfS/s1600/6+panini.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFk3bMotucnMRnsxi3ZxKWTvghq0jTRRnceMQ4TgSvQ3A2Wq2If02RzitPlhxg_BuNFivfrCMRXTiQz3iBhOaZjNkZVJ6gaCDlO5PYwMdcwQX93qDQgGxX0ZrJBgroGodVVQc5j_6TVfS/s640/6+panini.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAc3rcUgprnhPR1Ofl4ZmY5hVediGNkp1Qnoeqfrk4Xk-y1EXlC6-ScUKFs32ppgfD9muwgHsh7shwOM8-3CScmsMySc_UP-4GyashCa_SUa8Jt_TOe-2JG-7voaOO7gnQLFeMc73EqEIh/s1600/8+pasta+and+fagioli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAc3rcUgprnhPR1Ofl4ZmY5hVediGNkp1Qnoeqfrk4Xk-y1EXlC6-ScUKFs32ppgfD9muwgHsh7shwOM8-3CScmsMySc_UP-4GyashCa_SUa8Jt_TOe-2JG-7voaOO7gnQLFeMc73EqEIh/s640/8+pasta+and+fagioli.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All the
usual suspects were on offer, various panini, pizzette, pasta e
fagioli (pasta and beans), hot musetto (sausage) with mustard, home-made cakes and venetian
biscuits served with plenty of wine for the grown-ups (there's no
driving in Venice) and water for the kids. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydy7PxNL_B5jFyp6usI5UWdy5iO5mhF4hmkfHFlrGDm6P424UzbQNRIZ6Q0CyO1Jm205qCV_Zk7nUNCx27qHKdwP4Rx7Rcf4J1OKlMMLmeh4wXlEMpp0HrSmWNilqgvq_UPWMNLP_PbaH/s1600/dog+and+pasta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydy7PxNL_B5jFyp6usI5UWdy5iO5mhF4hmkfHFlrGDm6P424UzbQNRIZ6Q0CyO1Jm205qCV_Zk7nUNCx27qHKdwP4Rx7Rcf4J1OKlMMLmeh4wXlEMpp0HrSmWNilqgvq_UPWMNLP_PbaH/s640/dog+and+pasta.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Go to the <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.com/p/for-4-good-friends-this-is-great-soup.html">Bean and Pasta Soup</a> Recipe</span></div>
</div>Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-19381749324208705292012-02-21T18:06:00.000+01:002012-03-16T21:00:12.313+01:00Silent Rowing Parade & Vin Brulè<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
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</style><span style="font-size: large;"> Hello, my honorary venetian, lagoon loving
readers. Let me just say, after ten days of carnival festivities, I am finding it quite hard to fasten shut my pants. I'm even struggling to fit into shoes, have they shrunk! Is that even possible? The exercise in <i>excess</i> that is Carnival finally
comes to an end tonight, with the "Vogata del Silenzio". We're taking some friends out on our gondola, to participate in this "Silent Rowing Parade", alongside a multitude of other types of venetian
rowing crafts. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5Ro3TxpaR7OPcwp4aAk8AH8lfzxlD2t5OuO0Zd1hUYOFrb3RHiWa3TqO9PcvpVMPG5NfpVbAb5jqkZ9-Ts09ewRuBELdbyS1T2RsH1_7UWM86aNXGlTS5qZdatfnXJbWpH3fJjeiaSKb/s1600/accademia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5Ro3TxpaR7OPcwp4aAk8AH8lfzxlD2t5OuO0Zd1hUYOFrb3RHiWa3TqO9PcvpVMPG5NfpVbAb5jqkZ9-Ts09ewRuBELdbyS1T2RsH1_7UWM86aNXGlTS5qZdatfnXJbWpH3fJjeiaSKb/s640/accademia.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We'll make our way up the Grand Canal, sweeping
slowly beneath blacked-out "Palazzos" (Palaces) lit only by flickering candles.
The noiseless procession comes to a standstill in the St Mark's
basin, right in front of a wood and reed effigy of a Giant Bull, that
will be set alight as the campanile (bell tower) strikes midnight. The towering
timber "Toro" (bull), is a concession to our more humane, modern day
sensibilities. Just think, centuries ago, real live bulls were
beheaded in the St Mark's Square, people enjoyed a jolly game of wringing a gooses neck, or the Pre-Lent party favorite, head-butt the
cat in a sack! This year, after the bulls' painless torching, hundreds of
delicate paper lanterns are to be set free into the stoic black night, and
the rowers say goodbye to Carnival for another year. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRTc7Kf7nzZ8z8SZdQzzRaimPb0bdJYDcO03SSyMeB0DY4gkXfxJikIzRF0DmYPRYs3yVF1usQQGE3VWuBFV0UrxLAbtBi2BeXcKqXXsnxHNqFHY-VAmwXyhQ8NAEnWJFN4FA_bJnW-p3/s1600/DSCF0849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRTc7Kf7nzZ8z8SZdQzzRaimPb0bdJYDcO03SSyMeB0DY4gkXfxJikIzRF0DmYPRYs3yVF1usQQGE3VWuBFV0UrxLAbtBi2BeXcKqXXsnxHNqFHY-VAmwXyhQ8NAEnWJFN4FA_bJnW-p3/s640/DSCF0849.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">toro inferno</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj546wdr1oLIQwLZDiraWeF6ZnNSi9L4Uja4Rm0abVutReRTz3cqQEeMO3jQdivqX1kndRO_AjkLuUDxsgeuxQMkGtvnSS5opaPX83FQMOL8wEZItghDUjcKhperWn-nD61JZHesDcJVkDk/s1600/toro.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj546wdr1oLIQwLZDiraWeF6ZnNSi9L4Uja4Rm0abVutReRTz3cqQEeMO3jQdivqX1kndRO_AjkLuUDxsgeuxQMkGtvnSS5opaPX83FQMOL8wEZItghDUjcKhperWn-nD61JZHesDcJVkDk/s640/toro.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Bearing in mind, that we'll be sitting alfresco in the gondola for a couple of hours, I think we're going to
need some sort of hot, restoring beverage, to see us through the
evening. I've asked my best friend Monica to bring round her family recipe
for "Vin Brulè" (Burnt Wine). Northern Italy's version of Mulled Wine.
There exist many variations on this warming winter Sangria, generally
revolving around similar ingredients. The main difference being that with "Vin Brulè", you are supposed to burn off the alcohol by boiling the wine, and setting its fumes alight, hence, the name. Instead, with Mulled Wine
you don't, you just let it simmer and let the flavours infuse, whilst retaining all or most of the alcohol. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On this chilly night, I think we could benefit from the
extra glow that the alcohol should give us (it's the last day of Carnival,
after all)!! Its usefulness in preventing colds and its apparent
curative effects gained by antibacterial and antiseptic properties,
has been used by, flu fearing Monks since the middle ages. All in
all, it seems to be the perfect remedy for our post Carnival, winter
blues.</span></div>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLK_UHuJEVq6n9fSn_NTsQ1Zin3vrFnWtiItWJhZB_TY79fOcAwZduNi9IdVf17NIWZojxDi_smDvi0r6NkB8wuJtw4RUXWjv38qv3ku6yGSbLfmM643pGplY2dLpHIJCxx03ROG5F-CV/s1600/glass+in+hand.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLK_UHuJEVq6n9fSn_NTsQ1Zin3vrFnWtiItWJhZB_TY79fOcAwZduNi9IdVf17NIWZojxDi_smDvi0r6NkB8wuJtw4RUXWjv38qv3ku6yGSbLfmM643pGplY2dLpHIJCxx03ROG5F-CV/s640/glass+in+hand.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Go to the <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.com/p/vin-brule.html">Vin Brulè</a> Recipe</span></div>Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com0 Venice, Italy45.4343363 12.338784445.2560618 12.0229274 45.6126108 12.6546414tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-78243713626963155842012-02-03T18:51:00.000+01:002012-04-19T18:47:22.088+02:00A Gondolier That Dislikes Carnival, Why I Love It & Carnival Doughnuts<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ask <i>any</i> gondolier about
carnival and they go on and on and on about <i>confetti!</i></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJSfreBRnlHBYqY5bBb_T8t3IdhYCBjPPNtNL5xtrefM9MsYxw0b3nMS1mSTGVxsrHWCY02dAdxPntOrj2w0G5oMLZtDCXRZlVMhICcdhx3izVTzEfRJEXfBPlZUHLRX-Q7ObevS0An9e/s1600/confetti.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJSfreBRnlHBYqY5bBb_T8t3IdhYCBjPPNtNL5xtrefM9MsYxw0b3nMS1mSTGVxsrHWCY02dAdxPntOrj2w0G5oMLZtDCXRZlVMhICcdhx3izVTzEfRJEXfBPlZUHLRX-Q7ObevS0An9e/s640/confetti.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, confetti! Those millions of tiny
colourful bits of paper.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I can always tell that Carnival
has started, when Dino comes home, all grumpy and mumbling to
himself. Once he has calmed down, he goes on to explain how a group
of jolly costumed kids, urged on by snap-happy parents, bombarded him with
handfuls of sinister shards of confetti from a bridge as he was passing under with his gondola. I tell him they're just having fun, it's Carnival... relax! He then
proceeds to compare it to a situation, he thinks I can relate to... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">"How would you like
someone to open your car door, empty a bag of shredded paper into it,
and then laugh?" He goes on to inform me that gondoliers
will still be removing these multicoloured specs of paper from their boats
in six months time. What a big baby! So, hurling confetti into
gondolas is a <i>definite</i> no no. Though it won't stop me!</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKOdgmz4O-GdRBUD0hMx4RFCw1cr897S7Qrq-NXKdGf9_GBhG4m9j91dNmPpL3XEvf36tKc9hb0qpQ6iblOc_GTxoH3BbBfdWJBytBRiEzxGbPuhyphenhyphenJv49GqkZ71wxL4NYQcjDogvzLGeD/s1600/dino+and+confetti.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKOdgmz4O-GdRBUD0hMx4RFCw1cr897S7Qrq-NXKdGf9_GBhG4m9j91dNmPpL3XEvf36tKc9hb0qpQ6iblOc_GTxoH3BbBfdWJBytBRiEzxGbPuhyphenhyphenJv49GqkZ71wxL4NYQcjDogvzLGeD/s640/dino+and+confetti.JPG" width="477" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Try it kid, make my day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">For </span><span style="font-size: large;">the 20 or so odd years that I have lived here, I have seen my far
share of this event. The dates change, depending when
Easter falls. It happens each year, those 10 days prior to the
beginning of lent, and as you may have guessed, it is all about <i>excess</i>.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFptpWboo1j84XTqQtg41ezPbxsH5IfQqmC-r8DvabBztlMzMmTygm9RQR1PLdEOiwLqeUPXG6-KLfP7WUUSEeiyMpSMF5OTeUy1oKNeZzGMvQ9kkC-Z7Lzb0-f34TxgEL3hguDflHoSTJ/s1600/lions+of+venice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFptpWboo1j84XTqQtg41ezPbxsH5IfQqmC-r8DvabBztlMzMmTygm9RQR1PLdEOiwLqeUPXG6-KLfP7WUUSEeiyMpSMF5OTeUy1oKNeZzGMvQ9kkC-Z7Lzb0-f34TxgEL3hguDflHoSTJ/s640/lions+of+venice.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lions of Venice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This time of year, thousands of people, come from all over the world, to have fun in
Venice. The moment they hire a costume and slip on a glittering mask, they'll become part of the noise and mayhem. Suddenly, they no longer have a nationality, and are free to become Venetians, go to lavish balls in the palaces on the Grand Canal, eat and drink themselves silly. Exuberance is in the frosty air and everybody joins the fabulous chaos.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AbDW3sQ_qQ7CFLaVPP4KMKJ53mEH7R-ImhfuUI2ucM6vNe8czMl-wDmzpsMDXCUis85tzrPg2ir78HQ4YFBYxN2ZW60yc24-OqZsKfw1O1ci-M-9WUg-7CU6PTYcmxKgC67_FJ4WOT4G/s1600/mask+people.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AbDW3sQ_qQ7CFLaVPP4KMKJ53mEH7R-ImhfuUI2ucM6vNe8czMl-wDmzpsMDXCUis85tzrPg2ir78HQ4YFBYxN2ZW60yc24-OqZsKfw1O1ci-M-9WUg-7CU6PTYcmxKgC67_FJ4WOT4G/s640/mask+people.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I also need my Carnival comfort
foods, and most importantly, lots and lots sweet treats. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What is just amasing about
these treats, is that, they appear a week or two, prior to the
beginning of the festivities, and then, on Ash Wednesday, they all
disappear, only to seen again the following year.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These sugary delights
include:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"</span><span style="font-size: large;">Frittelle”- "Carnival Doughnuts" made with sultanas or/and pine nuts or/and
bits of apple, they are either plain, rolled only in sugar, or with
an amazing cream filling and rolled in sugar.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Galani"- "Carnival Wafers" are thin shortbread sheets dusted
with mountains of icing sugar.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Castagnole"- are small, heavy dough
balls, coated in sugar, they resemble in texture, and in flavour, a traditional doughnut. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkTCzNm2RVROzVdeMpW2y8n4pdxxCStcrDyqPW8Pg176aA5kT0zHS-UuHHhCGuCiDdOoU6sA9nDl9Eqtwi52_Es0dl2GZDQJaTaJLIcuC-7u6EFWmsHCJWr2qdvmDbgn8EA1r9jhEtATi/s1600/castagnole.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkTCzNm2RVROzVdeMpW2y8n4pdxxCStcrDyqPW8Pg176aA5kT0zHS-UuHHhCGuCiDdOoU6sA9nDl9Eqtwi52_Es0dl2GZDQJaTaJLIcuC-7u6EFWmsHCJWr2qdvmDbgn8EA1r9jhEtATi/s640/castagnole.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">All of the these treats
are fried in oil, I have been told in confidence, that palm oil is
the best (I can't find it here), as they don't absorb the oil as
much, but basically any vegetable oil will do, and seeing that once
lent begins we need to abstain from such indulgences, we tend,
therefore, to go a little crazy just before. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Every bar, caffè, pastry
shop, supermarket and household, have these goodies in a plentiful
supply, I mean, we need to keep warm somehow! </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ask any Venetian, and they
all have their favourite goody. There are those who prefer their "frittelle"
plain, or with a light vanilla custard, or with a pistachio mousse.
Naturally, the filled "frittelle" are my favourite and as I
have decided to risk my ever so expanding waistline, I have attempted
over the years to find the "bestest" pasticceria (pastry shop) in
Venice. Don't get me wrong, they are <i>all</i> basically fabulous, however
some, are a touch better.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Pasticceria
Bucintoro" - 2229 San Polo, the "fritelle" are
</span><span style="font-size: large;">quite spectacular, try their chantilly filled delights,
the husband and wife team are just terrific, AND, they still only
charge 1 euro.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezs9u8-43Xb7sVAIimdSURihwlgHlEN1Itvr3QYwwA4uNU0Dh0Q0f08d94Kt27BRL_SQTSdBypSm37PpeX1LNAZlGBRl-qA4OsnePc14K5yEu2Z9uGfv6u9U0cSKTPz-rP4ZXFedECP0I/s1600/bucintoro.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezs9u8-43Xb7sVAIimdSURihwlgHlEN1Itvr3QYwwA4uNU0Dh0Q0f08d94Kt27BRL_SQTSdBypSm37PpeX1LNAZlGBRl-qA4OsnePc14K5yEu2Z9uGfv6u9U0cSKTPz-rP4ZXFedECP0I/s640/bucintoro.JPG" width="640" /></a>"Pasticceria Tonolo"
- 3764 Calle dei Preti, Dorsoduro, the espresso and the traditional "frittelle" are superb ( be prepared for a fight !!) </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lRXIzRE1zWUlSC1HYJoZ6M2C6W7gyGRsrLUvQEtbiX2K_CQ0qzPiJ9J8KykQNyI_okkLzajYZV7WhYUpegT0KsDOUbZzQWcTEJnCYqNMoTFO5PDL8n7PH02fv4c1t5lYIJuF2Uyoen98/s1600/tonolo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lRXIzRE1zWUlSC1HYJoZ6M2C6W7gyGRsrLUvQEtbiX2K_CQ0qzPiJ9J8KykQNyI_okkLzajYZV7WhYUpegT0KsDOUbZzQWcTEJnCYqNMoTFO5PDL8n7PH02fv4c1t5lYIJuF2Uyoen98/s640/tonolo.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and... if you
happen to be on the island of Lido di Venezia, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Pasticceria Marcorich"- Via Sandro Gallo 120, has the most divine GALANI -
no one, and I mean NO ONE beats them!!!! Worth a trip to the Lido.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLA-Va8RFYxy0zl01gBZUSzKaebBp5DO9fbLmQ9rbxxPtUOgsSu4jf70gcf8ntD0M7JXb1fq3JeuKwlB4MV0VoCW0jkVUyB0Ktvt7MDgrkcCX59_FJGVbeSyfbt_b0qSTLhyBNe36uLXdu/s1600/pasticerria+marorrich-+galani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLA-Va8RFYxy0zl01gBZUSzKaebBp5DO9fbLmQ9rbxxPtUOgsSu4jf70gcf8ntD0M7JXb1fq3JeuKwlB4MV0VoCW0jkVUyB0Ktvt7MDgrkcCX59_FJGVbeSyfbt_b0qSTLhyBNe36uLXdu/s640/pasticerria+marorrich-+galani.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So then, for all you poor folk who could not make it to Venice this
year, </span><span style="font-size: large;">here is the
recipe. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The problem is that you
cannot just stop at one. They are quite addictive!!! Help!!!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfVjprN-dMN-qUnhZhWGHZdRJsFuF-33gDpk_zZ8vi8rT08PaC14w-oGzP5jXD1nU3E7Gsa15b8GI84HhlyNfk_N211haHyEyFLTVp_9SPsgOWWLm4p1wIoXK0XquS8uhcEbXoxhwPJ-y/s1600/mr+polly+the+dog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfVjprN-dMN-qUnhZhWGHZdRJsFuF-33gDpk_zZ8vi8rT08PaC14w-oGzP5jXD1nU3E7Gsa15b8GI84HhlyNfk_N211haHyEyFLTVp_9SPsgOWWLm4p1wIoXK0XquS8uhcEbXoxhwPJ-y/s640/mr+polly+the+dog.JPG" width="484" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polly loves confetti!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Go to <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.com/p/carnival-doughnuts.html">Carnival Doughnuts</a> Recipe</span></div>
</div>Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-59981175394439765432012-01-31T14:28:00.000+01:002012-04-19T18:48:38.431+02:00Freezing Venice & Risotto with Radicchio, Prosecco and Baby Lagoon Prawns<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">
<style type="text/css">
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</style><span style="font-size: large;">What a difference twelve
months make. To think that this time last year, Dino and I were
enjoying the Sydney sunshine, whilst watching the pasty English
cricket team, (unfortunately) bash the bronzed Australians. Nothing
could stand more in stark contrast, to what we're going through here,
this winter. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNiF3y5yNWEYQQTqBG7ZtnzW7KQuOchdOLG9JRac7TRUZ_V4MzBdaJto3At-yimU5hP7csOMicleekNO9UYtEr0QqSqHWcrwj4bWRI0JPQnw_zTcyi9h2VUy6vvrInJ_wPPOrjZ8k_GHM/s1600/frozen+lagoon+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNiF3y5yNWEYQQTqBG7ZtnzW7KQuOchdOLG9JRac7TRUZ_V4MzBdaJto3At-yimU5hP7csOMicleekNO9UYtEr0QqSqHWcrwj4bWRI0JPQnw_zTcyi9h2VUy6vvrInJ_wPPOrjZ8k_GHM/s640/frozen+lagoon+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">freezing venetian lagoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Currently, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Venice
is shivering through a severe cold snap, one of the worst anyone I've
talked to can remember. Parts of the lagoon have become salty sheets
of ice, and the canals of the city have been transformed into an
emerald green granita! Still, it's not as bad as the bitter winter of
1929, when people could actually walk from Venice to the mainland
over the frozen lagoon!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our
friend, <span style="color: black;">Margaretha Breil braved
arctic temperatures to photograph these gelid scenes not witnessed
for many, many decades.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVnsB3QANR4FUBmwyjxB5ZcNPCiSyYGr4tUfo-ZtGkH-HH6A7tPUJvlKEeu8QrMqdx6qbEpR4YlwJwJoWqvcDfcjUqrJ5jgUpUQ1kJWjL7BwrsyEuk04tA5S-9fhhq9uOCfrxOeTgz0ul/s1600/frozen+gondole+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVnsB3QANR4FUBmwyjxB5ZcNPCiSyYGr4tUfo-ZtGkH-HH6A7tPUJvlKEeu8QrMqdx6qbEpR4YlwJwJoWqvcDfcjUqrJ5jgUpUQ1kJWjL7BwrsyEuk04tA5S-9fhhq9uOCfrxOeTgz0ul/s640/frozen+gondole+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">icy gondolas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJAtpH4b0LGhKCkD7EoBlXSsqVndYBMbDg0bivT1jKYCtu7k8HOmEu3m2oWwfZVmzPb6OkM7IG45_ejZFnwy8hZ7V36SZ5xCcFFWGCNqT5lv_nsZmm6m1mN6WUqW57EpQ_i_AWj9ErHu-/s1600/frozen+bridge+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJAtpH4b0LGhKCkD7EoBlXSsqVndYBMbDg0bivT1jKYCtu7k8HOmEu3m2oWwfZVmzPb6OkM7IG45_ejZFnwy8hZ7V36SZ5xCcFFWGCNqT5lv_nsZmm6m1mN6WUqW57EpQ_i_AWj9ErHu-/s640/frozen+bridge+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<style type="text/css">
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</style><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: large;">None
the less, I decide to face the frost and ice and make my way to the
Rialto markets, to see what's on offer. I find crates full of
radiant, red, radicchio. There are many different types: Radicchio
di Treviso (thin, pointy leaves), Radicchio Precoce (wider leaves,
pointy, shaped like a rugby ball), Radicchio di Chioggia (looks like
a round iceberg lettuce, and has a round head), Variegato and
Radicchio Rosa.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: large;">You
can prepare this versatile vegetable in many many ways: in a salad,
sautéed in butter, roasted on the grill, baked with besciamella, in a with pasta and
pancetta and chili... the list goes on.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Radicchio, like most of
the produce at the markets, is seasonal, making its first appears in
November and remaining throughout the winter. The crunchy leaves are
especially at their tastiest after frosts, so this is DEFINITELY the
right time to buy some. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8odTWh2k9LyO1eggFy_6WZm75WHgCOdNu1BqCn9d2Uf1OGenOgoL1uMo7GAALH11HuLxYiqdCHo3ccGOssUmeJBBa57MYp1imwbaSCrSonZYixHjS7pfbsfDZsnlXrsSkdZ2n-gGyfN4A/s1600/chioggia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8odTWh2k9LyO1eggFy_6WZm75WHgCOdNu1BqCn9d2Uf1OGenOgoL1uMo7GAALH11HuLxYiqdCHo3ccGOssUmeJBBa57MYp1imwbaSCrSonZYixHjS7pfbsfDZsnlXrsSkdZ2n-gGyfN4A/s640/chioggia.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've also picked up some
very naughty baby prawns, they are sold live, so live in fact, that I
can feel them bouncing around in the bag attempting to make their
escape! An ideal winter comfort food, for me has always been
carbohydrates, carbohydrates, and more carbohydrates, so tonight I'm
going to serve up a heart warming Risotto </span><span style="font-size: large;">with
Radicchio and (jumping!) Lagoon Prawns. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I have a sneaky
suspicion that most of the dead fox fur wearing old ladies, who are
attempting to push in front of me, have a similar idea.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ2nBxFSoKSBfK7TEirnsHrSOLSVjRDSt_GlhEGiDFlw4v_HMiDKP6m4m6WnSmQRCyI48SjSqPhRhFmaIYPAAJ_8lRZmhfKum4xe4jiI6y4-30MsoBDZzN1AUg0SRGWcl4G7aqsdPIklB/s1600/prawns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ2nBxFSoKSBfK7TEirnsHrSOLSVjRDSt_GlhEGiDFlw4v_HMiDKP6m4m6WnSmQRCyI48SjSqPhRhFmaIYPAAJ_8lRZmhfKum4xe4jiI6y4-30MsoBDZzN1AUg0SRGWcl4G7aqsdPIklB/s640/prawns.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">baby lagoon prawns</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Go to <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.com/p/risotto-with-radicchio-prosecco-and.html">Risotto with Radicchio, Prosecco and Baby Lagoon Prawns</a> Recipe</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
</div>Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2648500875966366911.post-61880835748235970892012-01-03T19:00:00.000+01:002012-04-04T08:52:21.895+02:00Polar Bears in Venice & Lentils with Sausage<span style="font-family: Times,serif; font-size: large;">On
the first day of the year, we went to the beach on the Lido to watch
the “Ibernisti”, I like to call them the Polar Bears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DiKPJEMyjeR8UPfUYr5rChHHT_Y0TzjndhbcJeF8AGuhLxsP0bd6un7-Iw34oyTnz1R2_XA4twuVtfAdwP986CRura4FeinxeMExS_nrQQ7fP8ie6mgZo62_111AY5LnF440Vsc4-ztc/s1600/swimmers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DiKPJEMyjeR8UPfUYr5rChHHT_Y0TzjndhbcJeF8AGuhLxsP0bd6un7-Iw34oyTnz1R2_XA4twuVtfAdwP986CRura4FeinxeMExS_nrQQ7fP8ie6mgZo62_111AY5LnF440Vsc4-ztc/s640/swimmers.JPG" width="640" /></a>They're
a group of intrepid bathers, who try to take a dip in the sea every
day of the year, no matter what the weather, and on New Year's Day,
they do it in STYLE. </span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,serif; font-size: large;">In
Venice, its customary to eat "Lenticchie e Musetto"
(Lentils and Sausage) as your first meal of the year, to encourage
lady luck to smile upon you."Musetto" actually means the
face, yes the face, or if you are a pig, the snout. It is made up of
some meat parts of the face, other cuts of pork meat, the rind and
many many secret spices.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSDLGyxY-rdOcHVDKsO2n7JeFDS2I64vPjU4EUA53LzNcVXurG-67-TKvW1Rgg85DN415r7C-gcnMhpPBx-rCLTOsrkUeHgTob9WALfnyUMc-a7Z1Q4TJG20mKbMVyei5y3G2NM1W1K83/s1600/plate+of+food+up+close.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSDLGyxY-rdOcHVDKsO2n7JeFDS2I64vPjU4EUA53LzNcVXurG-67-TKvW1Rgg85DN415r7C-gcnMhpPBx-rCLTOsrkUeHgTob9WALfnyUMc-a7Z1Q4TJG20mKbMVyei5y3G2NM1W1K83/s640/plate+of+food+up+close.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lucky fellow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,serif; font-size: large;">This
traditional New Year's dish, combines two of Italy's culinary symbols
of good luck and fortune. Lentils, when cooked, swell and resemble
coins, and the pork sausage, thanks to its fat content, represents
wealth. What right minded Venetian, could say no, to this double
whammy of wealth and fortune, and even better, it's all served for
free! This dish, is what awaits the thirty or so, not so right minded
Polar Bears, plus a couple hundred, heavily dressed, hungry onlookers.
Some of the crowd, actually DO resemble bears!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times,serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWF2RByc-qLWhYM511Voj0jlz9G_zwstax0lK9CiZqpF_JtPE0syjYCpiVqM3YdJRRsOxNZ0Yg_J_Q5U4398Ssix3cBDA4Xb7Ebpe7wYN5YBrEiRukMXLegCd26QP2unYxOlA2DrqG9SL/s1600/real+polar+bears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWF2RByc-qLWhYM511Voj0jlz9G_zwstax0lK9CiZqpF_JtPE0syjYCpiVqM3YdJRRsOxNZ0Yg_J_Q5U4398Ssix3cBDA4Xb7Ebpe7wYN5YBrEiRukMXLegCd26QP2unYxOlA2DrqG9SL/s640/real+polar+bears.jpg" width="640" /></a>The
swim-suited bears, pad slowly towards the waters edge, holding
balloons (for safety?!) and take their icy plunge in the Adriatic,
safe in the knowledge that when they get out all smiling and jack
frosted, they'll warm themselves up with piping hot, wealth inducing
lentils with a thick piece of prosperous, sticky sausage, a glass or
two of vino and a hearty slice of panettone (Italian
Christmas cake).</span></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdJdVBDPMZTCt9G5oRorgQGVpZ2HZr3j5jRRo84bWFT9hoq6092Gi62el73RXzf-RAUmvdH429nGKCCLhMMlTwhWBQPFeV-T5LIvc7aMa-NYpc070zUNmF3p_XoRU8dcmkh1p5E_xuiNT/s1600/2+glasses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdJdVBDPMZTCt9G5oRorgQGVpZ2HZr3j5jRRo84bWFT9hoq6092Gi62el73RXzf-RAUmvdH429nGKCCLhMMlTwhWBQPFeV-T5LIvc7aMa-NYpc070zUNmF3p_XoRU8dcmkh1p5E_xuiNT/s640/2+glasses.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">having a drink or two...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-oWR2k_7w20dnJui075TdNuTEdE079ovwl2I8psTgFpzqzK9QZPTnUlZ63cftdgwr7pytbtgNClB-31rQTUsxmr5P3OUUJ4-vyuIahHL2Q0tL3T8eglcHkovBeryPdmwlUOMPTem1STA/s1600/5+volunteer+and+wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-oWR2k_7w20dnJui075TdNuTEdE079ovwl2I8psTgFpzqzK9QZPTnUlZ63cftdgwr7pytbtgNClB-31rQTUsxmr5P3OUUJ4-vyuIahHL2Q0tL3T8eglcHkovBeryPdmwlUOMPTem1STA/s640/5+volunteer+and+wine.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... or 30!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times,serif; font-size: large;">We cheer and hoot them for
about two minutes, and then race back up the beach to form an orderly
Italian line (it was, surprisingly!) to get our food, leaving our
hero's squealing and turning various shades of pink in the shivering
sea.<span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRniO1YWPbwCdzJZJijHfra0kKL8YULt_EBhrXW8Qz2Tq3XreBGqnRTmRnrEuWJtvQM07F0zQIyKbGuGycj2sYOhBACSOGpfbGBmUrWZ-jwVpCaqpQWQqDwdPjEZE6h8h7f7VqafaXc6g/s1600/swimmers+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRniO1YWPbwCdzJZJijHfra0kKL8YULt_EBhrXW8Qz2Tq3XreBGqnRTmRnrEuWJtvQM07F0zQIyKbGuGycj2sYOhBACSOGpfbGBmUrWZ-jwVpCaqpQWQqDwdPjEZE6h8h7f7VqafaXc6g/s640/swimmers+1.jpg" width="640" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Times,serif;"><span style="color: black;">Thus,
the Venetian food calendar begins.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,serif;">So,
how to make this hearty wintery dish. Well, the recipe is a breeze, and,
remember, any flavoursome fatty sausage will do, or you add a thick
piece of smoky pancetta (bacon) during the cooking of the lentils,
this will impart a great smoky taste.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkiAaHQ3s2sXyAK1G4k9Oc8BCULq6CrhV8GVnM17BpV11e6Sl2MAjeAk0ImEOJ99gzbNSHczA4AfBu_kXQjAfEe_Io5quvtTLLsNTJ4_AKjygBgNAxqq9ckhktvlGr40cNNeoUXCMYQYF/s1600/final+plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkiAaHQ3s2sXyAK1G4k9Oc8BCULq6CrhV8GVnM17BpV11e6Sl2MAjeAk0ImEOJ99gzbNSHczA4AfBu_kXQjAfEe_Io5quvtTLLsNTJ4_AKjygBgNAxqq9ckhktvlGr40cNNeoUXCMYQYF/s640/final+plate.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,serif; font-size: large;">Go to <a href="http://gondolierswife.blogspot.com/p/dolci_17.html">Lentils and Sausage</a> Recipe</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>Angelina Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877996294747832143noreply@blogger.com0