The V
We were settling into a nice lunch at The V, as the locals call it, (the Volunteer for tourists and non-regulars) located on Baker Street the other afternoon when I was suddenly hit by the lurgy, as Jess calls it, so had to leave half my lunch behind. The first half of my spinach veggie burger tasted good, but had only a half sip of my Magners cider and had to leave the rest behind. If Clara was there I could hear her say - it is 'just wrong' to leave a beer unfinished and down it herself (well that was in her younger days). Have been there several times before with the Bunny rabbit but only for drinks and banter. Next time will have to go and eat my whole meal and play some of their board games. At least the Squirrel enjoyed his big burger lunch and Leffe.

Alimentari Alimentari is a new deli/café in Queen’s Park, London. My friend Clara and her two partners set up shop in December - it is a quaint and fabulous little place to pop in for an espresso, cappuccino or a latte, a light sandwich or some freshly made lasagne or gnocchi. They also sell salumi e formaggi (deli meats and cheese) and some great food products direct from Italy to take home. I bought some traditional northern Italian pasta for dinner –and Guido, who works there, gave me a recipe on how to make it- he was very helpful as we walked through the shop he would say, ‘oh that is good if made with a little olive oil and chilli’ or ‘that is my favourite, all you need to do is boil some pasta and add those spices’ it was like a personal shopper for food! And the lovely Italian accent made it even better (I wish I had one). With Clara’s style and dedication to quality the shop has every detail right. I met up with the Kirsten’s there and we all chatted to the main ‘supporter’ while Clara busily served the incoming and outgoing customers with cute kids and dogs in tow.

Alimentari’s website is great with tips on how to cook pasta, how to order Italian coffee and more on Italian life and eating habits. I love the design – great work Andrea!

I recommend popping in for some traditional Italian hospitality and food if you are in the neighbourhood! Auguri on the new shop opening, it looks wonderful.

Baci x (and they sell my fave Baci chocolates too)

What to do with half a bag of almost rotten carrots?

Like Clara says, 'it's just wrong to let things go to waste,' but.... she believes that to be true with Guiness Beer but doesn't eat leftovers?! Go figure.

Anyhow thinking about her words I decided to make something with the half bag of almost rotten carrots in the fridge. What to do? Nothing too fancy, threw them in a pot with boiling water a whole onion and a few potatoes and some garlic and voila some soup for the chillier nights that are approaching. I added an organic stock cube and lots of chili pepper and salt and ground black pepper. Once it was a little cool, I threw it in the blender and voila I will have soup for dinner the next few nights -although I am out each evening for the next few nights so those carrots may have been cooked in vain :)


And read on Wiki yesterday that almost 70% of Sicilans and descendants from the Mediterranean are lactose intolerant (LI) in comaprison with 5-10% percent of northern Europeans and Americans. All of this new LI info is fascinating.

Come to think of it I never saw my grandparents drinking milk or having cereal...I think my grandfather drank goats milk while he was making his cheese on the farm but that may be it...will have to check with the aunties and uncles about their milk consumption. Giovanna - does your mother drink milk?


x

Fresh out of the wood burning stove
These pizzas were made last week in in Sicily for festivities for Zia Concetta's 80th birthday. Happy Birthday Zia! Clara, Silvia, Mark and the gang went there for their gran's birthday and had a lovely time.

Apparently since they were the special guests they were served elaborate fare; grand dishes of fish & funghi(mushrooms must've been in season)and more Sicilian treats; but...poor Mark went all the way to Sicily and couldn't get a plate of pasta?! Poverino, so his mother in law made him a special meal when he got back to Canada.