Today I went to the local Coop which is a large Italian supermarket chain which has a policy of working with predominantly local Italian businesses wherever they have a store.
To this end it had a very good selection of local and national olive oils including one which I had read about but not previously seen. It was called Libera Terra and is produced on land confiscated from the mafia and put back into useful production. Great idea but risky work for those involved I would imagine.
LIFE ON AN ITALIAN OLIVE GROVE
Monday, May 21, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Market day
Today was market day as usual in Trevi.
We met another grove owner who told us of a local saying. If May is fresh then you will fill your house up to the roof tiles with the bounty of your crops.
I very much hope this turns out to be true.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
What did you do today?
Funny you should ask. I was painting a poached pear with a red wine and chocolate glaze and then taking photographs of it in the garden. First time I've done it. Never a day the same at Casa Margherita.
At this point I am unable to reveal why I was doing this but later in the year I will reveal all.
At this point I am unable to reveal why I was doing this but later in the year I will reveal all.
Monday, May 7, 2012
... and the shepherds watched their flocks....
The national Italian agricultural body has revealed that in the first 3 months of the year there has been 3,000 new shepherds registered.
That I find astounding as it must mean there are roughly 3,000 new flocks off sheep as well. Where has this penchant for hard animal husbandry come from. Bring a tad cynical I reckon there must be something woolly going on.
That I find astounding as it must mean there are roughly 3,000 new flocks off sheep as well. Where has this penchant for hard animal husbandry come from. Bring a tad cynical I reckon there must be something woolly going on.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Taglia L'erba - cutting the grass
Cutting the grass in and around the garden here at Casa Margherita. Still to early in my humble opinion to do the rest of the groves the weather is still quite spring like and so run the risk of having to do all of it again.
Being over 6ft tall, fond of a laugh is this the legendary jolly green giant?
Friday, May 4, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
Olive oil
Have finished the local Pic&Nic festival at Trevi. During the quite bits I was reading Extra Virginity by Thomas Mueller about as he say the "sublime and scandalous world of olive oil".
One thing in it I found interesting was that an olive oil's oleacanthal properties give it it's pepperiness and bitteriness. It is these same properties that give it some of the same anti-inflammatory properties as ibuprofen.
High quality olive oil is defined by it's pepperiness and bitterness. So to benefit from an olive oil's health benefits then you need to buy a quality olive oil and not any old blend found cheap in a supermarket.
One thing in it I found interesting was that an olive oil's oleacanthal properties give it it's pepperiness and bitteriness. It is these same properties that give it some of the same anti-inflammatory properties as ibuprofen.
High quality olive oil is defined by it's pepperiness and bitterness. So to benefit from an olive oil's health benefits then you need to buy a quality olive oil and not any old blend found cheap in a supermarket.
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