Roma o Morte - Where to Eat in Rome

Buongiorno.

Rome. The eternal city. All roads lead to it, and if you're any kind of globe trotter, your feet will inevitably lead you to this ancient heart of Western Civilisation.

But where do you go for the posh nosh once there? And are pizza and pasta the ONLY alternatives?

(Quick answer "no" ~ You will recall that in an earlier post I noted that offal is one of Rome's "local specialities".  But restaurants of quality, as a cheat hint while you are there, tend to promote that they are "seafood specialists").

Click through to learn more...!!!

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2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards

https://www.rasv.com.au/royal-melbourne-wine-awards

Tasting Friday 19th October

I was fortunate enough to gain access to this industry event this morning, which features Australian wines exclusively, awards the Jimmy Watson trophy for best overall wine, and include in this review my pick of the bunch.

Wine maker Frank Butera was my host.  His family run winery Bass River Wineries were skillful enough to garner a silver medal in the Pinot Noir Category.

The wine notes/guide at the door lists 68 pages of wine with up to 49 bottles/types/vintages per page, so there's around 3,200 bottles of wine to try.  Sorry I couldn't cover them all, but the morning was only so long.

Find out the winners and grinners below...

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Cacio e Pepe

Welcome to the second instalment of Kit’s Cucina’s Trip to Italy, Rome special.  This instalment, let’s talk about “cacio e pepe”.

While we were in Rome, my wife was thrilled to remake her acquaintance with this dish; essentially cheese and pepper with pasta. This is a quintessentially “Rome” (as opposed to Roman) dish.  Jane particularly liked it because it ticked her "simple but tasty" boxes while not being considered a kid’s meal or pretend food.

That said, this is THE trendy dish of the moment in Australia – we discovered on our return.  The Age/Sydney Morning Herald not only made it the lead recipe in their food supplement last week, but it was the cover dish on their promotion for their Good Food Guide for 2018-19 (pictured here). So here’s my take on it if you would like to be on the zeitgeist, as it were.

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Italy: An Introduction (to a series of articles…)

Apologies for my absence, dear reader.

Things have been, how shall I put this?  ....hectic in my life.  My late father, Dr Denis Fennessy went and died (RIP Dad), I moved out of a house of eighteen years (not his, just coincidental), and subsequently went on a trip to Italy for a few weeks to recover – so I trust you don't blame me for the hiatus in entries here.

In good news, however, I have come back with a swag full of notes on Rome, Umbria and their local specialities which  should guarantee your gourmet satisfaction. I'll also be including some restaurant recommendations for you, which I'll be sharing over the next few weeks.

So what can one say about Italy, and what makes Italy so very… Italian?

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The Royal George Hotel: Kyneton | Winter Solstice Lunch 2018

24 Piper St
Kyneton VIC 3444
www.royalgeorge.com.au

Why, hello there!

Regular readers of this blog may recall the annual winter solstice lunches I go on with some of my mates, and the rationale behind them (if not, read about previous ones here):

• 2015 
• 2016
• 2017 (I neglected to write this one up, because we went to the Royal Standard, which you can read about here)

This year, we took our pagan festival to Kyneton on the suggestion of our rural host Lachlan Milne; and what a fantastic suggestion it was! In fact some suggested ALL of our future lunches should be at country pubs on the train line somewhere.

Read on to find out more and see some photos…

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Instant Soup Recommendation - Ajishima Freeze Dried Miso Soup

Happy Winter Solstice!!! (in Australia - 8pm tonight, the 21st June)... and congratulations if you're reading this in the Northern Hemisphere and welcome to your longest summer day (you lucky, lucky b2*$%rds!).

Wherever you are, one and all, welcome!

What better to warm the cockles of your particulars, in the cold of winter, than with a warm soup?  And dare I say it; an instant soup you made with the kettle?

"Quoi?  Quel horreur!! Are you seriously recommending we now eat from packets?  This is the thin end of the wedge..." I can hear you thinking.

Well, be prepared for a shock.  I rarely do this, and this is not a paid endorsement, but can I direct your feet to the Asian section of your average suburban supermarket?

For photos of the packet, click here:

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Home made dog food

OK, fine, I can hear you saying:

"Where's the glamour gone?  Dog *?!@# food?  Kit's Cucina, that paragon of particularity, is now writing recipes for bally dog food (or "füd" if you'd prefer)?  I thought this was supposed to be a gourmet's paradise???"

Relax.  It is still gourmet.  I've been scratching my head on what to write about next, and on making up Liam the whippet's dinner this weekend, decided you might benefit from a recipe that feeds your dog for under a dollar a day, is good for them, makes them smell less doggy – making them more bearable to hang out with in close confines – as well as making (hem hem) "cleaning up after them" more bearable.

Now, read on for this canine culinary miracle...



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Flambé

Hi!  I know it's been a while, so here's a video of me setting fire to my tarragon chicken over Easter (see Damien Pignolet's 'French' for the recipe... fantastic with saffron rice and a green salad).

Oh yes, and I've just followed my star sign's advice, and taken it easy and relaxed today... taking myself out to lunch.  And what a great idea.  If you have been finding yourself in difficulties, being dragged down by parking fines or fights with your telephone company (telco), can I recommend it?

I went to that stalwart o' Melbourne, the European, where I found out that "petite fours", the small desserts, are named (literally) "little oven", which is what they were traditionally baked in.  See?  You learn something new every day.

Anyway, miss you, love you, byeeeee!!!

(click here to see the vid!!)

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Grape Expectations!

Wine? Why not? What is it? How was it invented? And can I have some more please?

"No"

Oh.

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Touching Cloth – Napkins and Their Use

Why hello there, you!!

Have you ever found yourself out at a dining experience and not quite sure how to deal with the napery? You're not alone.

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Sakura Kaiten Sushi

61 Little Collins St, Melbourne  VIC  3000

Yummmmmmm!!!!!!

And this time I mean it.


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The Waiting Game

Waiters! Who are they, and what do they do? This week it's an early release Eatiquette episode, the Waiting Game, where we examine how to deal with the doyen of the dining room. Bon appetit!!


https://goo.gl/gX7C4N

p.s. I get a cameo in this one!! See if you can spot me (hint, I'm in the kitchen scene!!).

;)


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The Perils of Porcelain

Plates!  What are they, where do they come from, and how do we use our precious porcelain pals properly?

And  - incidentally - how, oh how, did that guy do that amazing thing with his ears?

Ah, it must be a Tuesday! Find Episode 3 of 'Eatiquette' here: The Perils of Porcelein, your guide to plates! (please like, share, etcetera etcetera and so forth...):

https://youtu.be/-GBkjfvz8EM

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Knife Know How!

It's the second episode of our pilot comedy series Eatiquette!

Didn't think much of forks? Perhaps you're a knife person? (pass it on!!)

https://goo.gl/skZ5Wo

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How to Use a Fork!

Howdy Cowdies! Happy New Year from Kit's Cucina and Blue Vapours!!

Over the holidays we made some short comedy bits on table etiquette.

Here's the first one on how to use a fork! Learn "western" table manners without being lectured too AND having a laugh!!

https://goo.gl/iWUuxV

Please watch/share/like so we can get the clicks up on YouTube and hopefully find a sponsor eventually. We'll be posting one a week!!

p.s. It's my foot doing the stunt work!!
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