What is That? Tamarindo

This fruit(?) grows in pods hanging in a slightly curved shape and can be found at the market all year long. According to the internet, and the internet never lies, cooking with the pulp of the tamarind is used as a spice in soups and sauces. It is also an ingredient in Worcestershire sauce. 

It's mostly a food found in tropical places so I didn't find any Italian recipes using it, but I did find it in an Italian grocery store. Does anyone else cook with this strange food? Tell me about it!

We've Been Occupied

  Torino has 2 occuby protesters. They popped up some tents in Piazza Castello and had everybody write down their list of complaints on cardboard so passers-by could support the protest.

Half-Ass Coverage of the Turin Marathon

  Yesterday morning at 9:30 sharp a starting gun fired in Piazza Castello and hundreds of runners began the Turin Marathon. Before 9:30 the pomp and ceremony was like grand show. From someone who is not a huge fan of races, here are your half-ass marathon highlights!

There was some singing:



There were costumes:

There were people, there were balloons, there were cameras:

After a couple of hours of cheering and noisy helicopters circling the city, the winners started to come in:
The mens winners:

And the women's winner:

In true Italian style, I was standing next to some Italians who were smoking while watching the winners come in. I found this ironic.
And that was the best bits of the Turin Marathon.

Hit the Road Jack

Yesterday this guy resigned.

 

Now Italy needs a fresh outlook. Some young blood to get in there a stir things up. Bring the country into the future with hope like Obama or Kate Middleton. So who did he choose as the next PM? This guy:

Mario Monti

Will he be any better? Don't know but he does look a little old for a Bunga Bunga party.

Best of the Web, Ya That's me!

Be @ Home Decor blog of Pocket Change has named All Roads Lead to Pecetto a Best of the Web for this week. Hooray! It's an honor also because the other blogs featured this week are all so fun, I feel in such good company. Click on this link to see me and to check out some other best of the web blogs.

One Foggy Morning

  Early this morning I awoke to find that the holiday festive Luci d'Artista has arrived in the streets of Torino. This one with stained glass is new this year.

 

The pigeons however, didn't seem to notice.

The Maestro Strikes Again at McItaly

  The second burger on the menu designed by 3 time Michelin star Chef Marchesi has arrived at our local McDonald's. Like the good blogger I am, I tried it for you. It's called the Adagio and it is unique to say the least. This time on top of your burger you will find an eggplant mousse, ricotta salata (the hard ricotta), chunks of grilled eggplant, and tomatoes topped with a soft bun encrusted with toasted almonds. It comes with a panettone tiramisu for dessert.

 I will say that this hamburger is better then the Vivace (the spinach burger), but still eggplant is not the most delicious topping. That is obvious but I still gave it a fighting chance. I know that this burger was not created for me. It was created for an Italian palette and good thing because it would never be successful in America and that's saying a lot because we put a lot of stuff on our burgers including blue cheese, onion rings, bbq sauce, mushrooms, bacon....

I often hear Italians criticizing the out of control toppings that Americans put on pizzas, specifically the meat lovers and cheese lovers verities. "Sacrilege", they say. So allow me to say, "back at you". Putting spinach and/or eggplant on a perfectly good meat patty is hamburger sacrilege. I applaud the creativity but keep trying.

Door Series #53

  Last night I watched the Miss World competition. It was a welcomed distraction from all of the rain, flooding, and terrible wreckage that has plagued my little part of the world this week. The winner was Miss Venezuela who had the best smile and the worst dress. A fluffy pink monstrosity that lacked... well, taste but certinaly grabbed your attention.

We, of course had our eyes on Miss Italy who was one of the only contestants who had very short hair which I thought was not only quite modern of her but also very un-italian like.

Miss USA, didn't even make the top 30. I couldn't even find a picture of her at the pageant. I was rooting for Miss South Africa, she was stunning. Miss Scotland would have been my runner up.

The theme of Miss World is "Beauty with a Purpose" which means they do a lot of charity work, and that's lovely but it made me giggle because the hostess kept saying "Beauty with a Porpoise". ha ha ha ha, anyways,

Frivolous and totally cheesy entertainment had by all. Now it's back to preparing for the Po River to flood our city which is predicted to start tonight. 

Eat Here: Ristorante da O Batti

 It was the promise of the best scampi in Liguria that lured us to U Batti last Monday night, the small restaurant in Portofino with a big local reputation. The moment we sat down we were given the "tools" we would need for our dining experience. They consisted of claw pliers and a giant bib.

There is no menu at U Batti. Instead our waiter rambled off the dishes that the chef had prepared for that evening.
We started off with a local white wine, Bianchetta. It was 13% volume which is quite high actually. This was my first Bianchetta and I found it a perfect compliment with fish dishes. Luckily we have Pier's father who always picks the wine and he is right on every time. Once I asked him how he does it and he told me this wise advice, "Always order the local wine and you will never go wrong."

Starters included fish and pesto because this is Liguria after all. Boghe with a cream pesto sauce and toasts with red pepper and pesto cream.

 Firsts included pasta with...more pesto and bread.

 

Then came the main event, the scampi. A sumptuous plate of fresh steamed 'mini lobsters' covered in butter and olive oil.

Finished off with a shot of lemoncello and a licorice infused sugar cube.

Ristorante da O Batti
Vico Nuovo, 17
Portofino, Genova
Website link

Get Out of Your Cubicle!

  Sarah at the always captivating Yes and Yes blog has just released her new travel book The Cubicle Escape Plan. I was lucky enough to read it last week and found it fun and unique because it's written in a chose your own adventure style. 

 This book is for you if you are looking for some creative ideas to get out of your cubicle. Download it from her website here.

 

What is That? Cetrioli Caroselli Pugliesi

Cetrioli = cucumbers but these don't look like your average cucumbers. These ones look like a honeydew melon. Turns out this varity is from Puglia and on the inside they look, and taste, like any other cucumber. Go figure.

Italians eat them alone with salt or in a cool summer salad. Or you can use them to make cucumber sandwiches like these ones I found on Tasteofhome.com

Did you know what they were? Have you tried them? Any recommendations?

Good News for Pompeii

 This week came good news for archaeology and history lovers, as well as Itali-files in that the EU has pledged $145 million dollars (105 million euros) to save Pompeii.

     The money is part of a larger one billion euro program to support major heritage sites in dire need of  conservation and will fund a four-year project to preserve the ancient Roman town.
The History Blog

The money is a much needed asset as 3 walls have fallen within the Pompeii city walls in the past several months due to the combination of inadequate matience and terriable weather.

How is that possible really when the archaeological park brings in 70 million dollars a year from tourists? Apparently it's in the way the money is being distributed.

Concern has been mounting internationally that not enough is being done to protect Italy's historical sites, as the heavily indebted country struggles to cope with recession and the effects of the global economic crisis.
Monsters and Critics


I hope we get the chance to see it make a difference.

ANSA story on walls colapsing here.

Now That's What I Call a Nativity Scene

  If you've ever been to Italy at Christmas time you would have noticed that Italians have an incredible tradition of elaborate nativity scenes. So this weekend when I headed to the gardening and craft supply store, I got a chance to take in just how serious they can take this decor.These are just some of the nativity displays they have up and it's only October.