This short note on artichokes is from my very dear friend, Timothy Gast. Tim recently retired from a long career in the produce industry, and he knows his veggies. Now, he and his husband, Paul Angleheart, spend time taking care of their beautiful yard in San Francisco, California, and their sweet rescue kids, Maya and kitty Pat. Well, they didn't recuse Pat; she just moved in - smart girl. And they grace their friends and family with delicious meals from their gourmet kitche

Much to my delight, I found a store in Italy dedicated to the French Fry. There is an art to making the perfect fry, and these folks are artists.  Potatoes!  Whoever discovered the potato should be given an award. And whoever cut this delightful tuber into batonnets and fried them in oil should be given Sainthood. Some think potatoes were introduced through the Belgians or the French (ya'd think the Irish), but it appears it was the Spanish. In 1537, Spanish conquistadors  ap

A long lunch is a welcome tradition in Italy. Outside the crowded tourist areas, shops tend to close for lunch between 1:00 and 3:00 pm (13:00-15:00). Restaurants remain open to serve everyone, and a few offer a prix fixe meal along with the regular menu. Many restaurants are family-owned and operated, like Trattoria Della Fortuna . They offer a prix fixe lunch they call the Worker's lunch .  Trattoria Della Fortuna is tucked away in a castle of Jesi and is well known to loc

Silky and nutty with walnuts, lemon and garlic, is a simple dip, spread, or side to grilled and roasted dishes. Way back in the 70s I worked my way through college as a sous chef at Chico Cheese and Charcuterie. It was a small place owned by Bill and Tom. I was their only employee. We had over 300 kinds of imported cheeses and house-made delicacies to go. This spread was very popular. Origins of Eggplant Caviar Eggplant caviar (often called melitzanosalata, baba ganoush, bakł

The US friend I mentioned in the introduction to my Travel Page was here for her annual visit to Italy, and we took our traditional short trip. This time it was to London (with a quick peek at Oxford, too). One of the things we did was visit Kew Gardens and have high tea. I had never heard of the gardens that I recall. It was interesting and a lovely park. The grounds are beautiful, relaxing, and so interesting. The green hop-on/hop-off bus helped us cover a lot of ground, an

my Recipe Fig trees are magnificent, beautiful masterpieces of nature. They provide glorious shade, and some branches are perfect for sitting or climbing. Much like the olive tree, the fig tree has been around for a very long time and has played a significant role in human civilization. And, of course, there are the figs. Figs are the oldest known cultivated fruit. Since the story of Adam and Eve depicts them wearing fig leaves, fig trees must have grown wild back then. But r

This recipe and photos are from Francois de Melogue our Guest Chef. Please read his story here. Francois de Melogue Calamari Salad with Farro, Chickpeas, and Preserved Lemon Prep Time: 25 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Serves: 4 Francois: " This is a vibrant, sun-soaked Mediterranean salad perfect for summer entertaining." "Just before serving, I love to drizzle the salad with a splash of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. That final touch adds a silky richness and a sp

Broth is one of my favorite things to make in the fall and winter. The slow cooker is on a few days a week. As I write this post, there's some chicken broth brewing in my INSTANT POT . I love my instant pot. I left my slow cookers in California and replaced them with an instant pot when I moved. You can brown things before adding liquid! There has been a lot of hoopla about stocks and broth in the last many years. But stocks and broths have been a staple in cuisine worldwid

After walking around Oxford, we finished the day in the King's Arms, known locally as the KM. Another high-energy atmosphere, happy people, great vibe. I dearly miss my university years.  Wadham College now owns the building, and Young & Co.'s Brewery operates the King's Arms. Founded in Wandsworth, London in 1831, the Brewery, known simply as Young's, and today owns 290 pubs and inns across London and southern England. The front of the pub was busy with people mingling and c

The Turf Tavern a Very Old Pub During our London trip, we took the train to Oxford and had lunch at The Turf. The Turf Tavern began as a malt house in the 13th century beside Oxford's medieval city wall. The building still shows features from earlier centuries, including its timber beams and low ceilings. As recorded during the 1381 reign of King Richard II, the tavern operated as a drinking house. It was originally called the "Spotted Cow" and was a place for gambling and be

Falling in Love with London I took a short trip to London a couple of weeks ago and fell in love. (Well, my true, only city love is San Francisco, but Seattle is a close second, and now so is London!) The exchange rate was dismal for the dollar. If your money is the pound or the euro, now is the time to visit the US. Oops, sorry, I think it's closed to foreigners. The British money sure is pretty, and it's plastic. It has an odd but solid feeling. Flying Out of Ancona Airport

This beauty was planted in 1850 at The Domain, Sidney Australia The fig tree (Ficus carica) is as intertwined with the development of society as the olive tree. The fig has historical and mythical significance. For thousands of years, fig trees have grown close to human settlements. They don't require a lot of care and the trees offer shade. The fruit's sweetness, long storage life when dried, and adaptability to dry climates made them an essential part of early agriculture

Please enjoy my first Guest Chef series with Francois de Melogue. He has spent years perfecting recipes that celebrate the best of Mediterranean ingredients.  I shipped Francois a bit of my olive oil and asked for a recipe and to tell us a story about his inspiration and love of food. The calamari salad recipe he has shared with us is excellent for a summer meal. And his storytelling creates a vivid image of his French mother and how food colors and fills his life. Francois l

What country produces the most olive oil? What country consumes the most olive oil? (Find the answers at the end.) Oil Worthy of the Gods Homer, the Greek poet, is credited with coining the term "Liquid Gold," even though that's not what he said. In a passage in the Iliad and Odyssey, Homer describes damsels anointing Achilles, washing him with rich and fragrant olive oil carried in a 'golden flask.'" The term "golden flask" evolved to "liquid gold," which is about right.   

Jesi, Ancona in the Marche region of Italy My first visit to Italy in 2019 was filled with many interactions and local fun. The country was new and exciting; the people were very friendly, and I chatted with everyone. Walking down a quiet cobblestone road in a castle in Jesi (Marche, Italy), we passed two men installing a lamp above a door. Their small van parked on the narrow road made passing by a little tight. "Buongiorno, sono Americana" (hello, I am American), I said as

Senigallia Ancona in the region of Marche Italy One of My Favorite Fruit and Veggie Stands This family-owned fruit and vegetable market is one of the first places in Senigallia that  I shopped for produce. Diana and Rafael are the friendly proprietors. They offer the freshest seasonal and locally grown fruits and vegetables. They also have some cheese and prepared food like salads, side dishes and chopped vegetables ready to use in your recipe.   Whenever possible shop for pr

Montefalco, Italy Walking through a castle, as one does in Italy, enjoying the shops and the people in Montefalco, Italy, a town in the Umbria region of Italy, we came across the Church of Sant'Agostino , a small Gothic-style church built in the 13th century. It was completed in 1275 and dedicated to Saint Augustine , Bishop and Doctor of the Church. The church is in between shops and across from a butcher—an odd juxtaposition. The front is unremarkable, aside from the large

The Myth In ancient Greek mythology, Zeus, the god of the sky and order, had his daughter Athena compete against Poseidon, the god of the sea, for control of Athens. It was an important competition. After all, Athens was a powerful city and the center of the arts, learning, and philosophy. It is one of the world's oldest cities and has long been thought of as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. As it grew into this noble post, the people felt t

My Olives Plus Two Crates not Shown Crushing the fruit is the second phase of the harvest. Various wineries and olive mills provide this service, and for a small fee, you can turn your olives into the freshest olive oil available! You can also find olive mills that still use stones to grind the olives versus a crusher. After three days of collecting olives, we hauled them to the Mazzola Winery  and the olive crusher. Mazzola Winery & Crusher. The crusher, Mazzola, is a small

Lucas is ready for harvest. I never thought I'd be a small olive farmer. Since I can remember, I've dreamt of having a farm with animals, green pastures, and that classic old red barn. And I've lived on land most of my adult life—from 5 to 1400 acres—with big gardens and chickens but (never the big red barn.) I've been so fortunate to live in places with lots of room, expansive views, skies dripping with stars, and sunsets that take your breath away. And I was delighted when