Tag: Birthday

Why does Queen Elizabeth celebrate her birthday twice? – Italian Cuisine

Why does Queen Elizabeth celebrate her birthday twice?


Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her birthday on April 21 and the second Saturday of June … why?

April 21st is the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, which calendar this year wants to add to the celebration of Holy Easter. Born 93 years ago, however, the sovereign does not celebrate her special day like all of us, it would be too simple. As His Majesty, however, it is British tradition that the birthday party be repeated twice, did you know? The most curious thing is precisely the reason for this double party, which will make you smile …

Double birthday

The eldest daughter of King George VI and Queen Consort Elizabeth, was born in London on 21 April 1926, more precisely at 02.40am at 17 Bruton Street in the elegant Mayfair district. Like all ordinary mortals, Elizabeth II he celebrates his birthdays on the day of his birth – we cannot stop ourselves from imagining her elegantly dressed in royal clothes blowing candles on a huge cake prepared by the pastry chefs of the royal house! Already from its twenty-eighth birthday everything changes: in fact, starting from the day of its coronation, June 2, 1953, the double celebration takes place. In fact, His Majesty celebrates both on his actual day of April 21st and the second Saturday of June.

The funny tradition is not due to an aristocratic whim, but has its own because in an essential element of the United Kingdom: the climate! The change dates back to the 18th century, when King George II decided to move the day of his birthday celebrations from November to June to find in the English climate once more forgiving and favorable to the military parade with which he intends to celebrate the event. From 1748 it is tradition that the second Saturday of June honors the birthday of the reigning ruler with the colored one Trooping Colors. Then, in the 66 years of unchallenged reign, Queen Elizabeth II has always celebrated her birthday twice: traditionally April 21 in private with the family, while in June with celebrations in great pomp before the English subjects and numerous tourists.

The queen's cakes

Despite the Sovereign's diet is decidedly balanced, healthy and light, her rigor falters in front of the cakes, especially if of chocolate. The former royal cook Darren McGrady in fact, she revealed Elisabetta II's passion for the food of the gods in an interview with the magazine Harper’s Bazaar, which she tastes moderately almost every day. The Royal Chef has always made sure that his favorite chocolate cake, or the Chocolate Biscuit Cake, which even wants to find at hand even when traveling.

Over the years, this passion has been repeatedly documented giving a more human and less distant appearance to the stainless queen. For his 90 years, the winner of Great Britain Bake Off, Nadiya Hussain, has prepared a real work of art by cake design on three floors between gold and palettes of lilac really attractive. A birthday so important to be honored with another spectacular cake, a huge rectangle that replicates the colors of the British flag with berries, donated on the occasion of Prince William's diplomatic visit and his wife Kate in New Delhi. Also in 1989 the birthday cake it is on three floors, this time in white with colorful decorations, then donated by the Royal Welch Fusiliers military corps to Powis Castle in Wales. But not just birthdays: often official commitments involve cutting the cake and its pleasure in sinking the knife is undeniable!

Browse the gallery to see Queen Elizabeth II struggling with beautiful cakes!

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Happy birthday Sassicaia! – Italian Cuisine

Happy birthday Sassicaia!


It began as a "vague experiment", it has become one of the best wines in the world. The history of Sassicaia is so incredible that the stage of the Teatro Regio in Parma was conquered on February 15th. "We broke the banks," said the director to welcome the 100 guests of an unprecedented and original tasting evening led by Daniele Cernilli following the 50 years of this label.

When a Sassicaia is born

Sassicaia was born in Bolgheri on the intuition of Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, an austere and kind Piedmontese who came to Tuscany more for horses than for wine. Its the legendary Ribot, a thoroughbred who won 16 prizes in a row. The marquis, to avoid salt, decided to plant a vineyard at 3-400 meters, to the south-east as he had seen in France, called Sassicaia because of the pebbles between the vines. In 1968 he went out on the market with his first "vague experiment" as he wrote to Gino Veronelli. In 2015 it was the best wine in the world for Wine Spectator.

The winery is located in San Guido where the avenue of the Carducci cypresses begins towards Bolgheri. A land blessed by the wind of the sea and the magona, the Mediterranean scrub as they call it here that keeps the summer night cool. Without forgetting the Bolgheri Oasis, a reserve where storks migrate, live 3 thousand wild geese and still find the golden plover.
The Sassicaia is vinified with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) and Cabernet Franc (15%), semi-aromatic grape varieties typical of Bordeaux, and refined in the small wood of the barrique preserved inclined "bonde à coté" to minimize the contact with the air.

When to drink a Sassicaia, pairings

Its characteristic is to hide a fresh scent of kiwi and eucalyptus among the classic ones of cassis and spices, and to be long-lasting over time without ever being aggressive on the palate.

It goes well with feather game or even Florentine for a moderate alcohol that does not go to clash with fresh pepper, but its elegant style makes it also suitable for fish dishes such as a sole or a mushroom umbrella, inspired by a winter sea idea.

Two vintages to taste

Sassicaia 2010 smells of walnut husk and helichrysum as a breath of Mediterranean scrub, more dancer than swimmer for the delicacy on the palate, with a fresh kiwi finish.
Sassicaia 2015 has a fresh hint of cassis on the nose, the sweetness of the clove and of the tobacco, the density of the great aging wines without any roughness already in their youth.

Text by Aldo Fiordelli

Your summer baking pics

goodtoknow has teamed up with Russell Hobbs to bring you the goodtoknow Cooking Club. Every month there’s a full Russell Hobbs Creation Collection up for grabs for our favourite foodie picture.

Not only do you get the chance to win this amazing prize, you also get your photo on our goodtoknow Recipes site so you can show off to all your friends.

September’s theme was summer baking and we had so many fab entries it was hard to choose a winner.

From summer birthday cakes to strawberry cupcakes, we’ve had a great range of entries this month and you should all be very proud of your delicious bakes. Well done and thank you for entering.

Make sure you keep an eye out for next month’s competition. In the meantime come and see our winning picture and all your lovely entries…

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