Tag: table

Dante: 5 curiosities from the table of the Supreme Poet – Italian Cuisine

Dine with Dante (and his Stilnovist friends) to celebrate his 700th anniversary, satisfying the appetite for culinary whims and curiosities on the table of the Middle Ages

Tells Giovanni Boccaccio, author of Decameron as well as the first biographer of Dante, that mother Bella dreamed of giving birth to the great poet near a crystalline stream of water, of seeing him feeding on laurel berries and turning into a magnificent peacock before her eyes. The laurel / peacock symbolism that Boccaccio wants to connect to the wreath with which the best were crowned could sound very irreverent, from a culinary point of view: because the laurel, as well as rewarding the winners of the certami, flavored the roasts and the noble peacock it often ended up properly cooked on the desks and then in the stomachs of Dante's contemporaries, together with cranes, turtles, eels and even… crickets!

We are witnessed by one of the very first recipe books in history, that Liber de Coquina fruit of the cultural fervor of the Angevin court of Charles II. So let's try to sit together at Dante's table in his family home in Porta San Piero, before exile takes him away from Florence forever, to have a nice dinner prepared under the supervision of his wife, monna Gemma Donati, imagining that there are friends with him, all writers and poets: perhaps the disdainful Guido Cavalcanti, his teacher ser Brunetto Latini, the notary Lapo Gianni, and also his cousin in law Bicci Donati, notoriously good food, so much so that Dante will put him in the Purgatory of greedy.

Let's imagine a meal without too many frills, in a context of friendly sharing. After all, Dante was the first to make knowledge "a banquet to be shared" in Convivio and he has peppered his writings with metaphors related to food. Starting from having to eat that other people's bread that so "tastes of salt", granted to the "undeserved exile" almost out of charity, while in Florence, since the rivalries with Pisa made it difficult to supply salt, they were used to eating it silly, that is, unsalted. Bon appetit then with Dante and his poet friends, to remember him as a real man, in his human and family dimension and in his terrible and magnificent time.

5 curiosities from Dante's table

1) Old fashioned seasoning
Lasagna, macaroni and "ravioli" in Dante's time were served with butter, cheese, spices and… sugar! The tomato was not there yet. It was then a descendant of Guido Cavalcanti, Ippolito, who wrote one of the first recipes for macaroni with sauce in the nineteenth century.

2) Colored and digestive
Sauces were very popular in the Middle Ages both for their flavor, which had to help flavor the Florentine bland bread and favor the first digestion of meat and fish, and for the contrasting colors (white, green and brown for the camelina made from cinnamon and cloves), which ended up making it a decorative element on the canteens.

3) Fruit, a real aperitif
While the servants finished assembling the canteens, that is the wooden shelves supported by trestles which, covered with tablecloths, would then host the guests, the guests were served fruit and sweet wine, as snacks to "open the stomach" and make them hungry. …

4) Zero kilometer
Dante owned agricultural land just outside Florence and could put his farmers' fruit and vegetables on his table. And also the "forest" mushrooms, with regard to which even then great attention was paid in recognizing the edible ones from the dangerous ones.

5) Cooked in the jar
The "implenda", that is, stuffed hen, was prepared like this: its skin was stuffed into an elongated earthenware pot with an opening wide enough to insert the stuffing. The closed container was left to boil in a bain-marie. When it was time to bring it to the table, the vase had to be broken!

Blood or blonde oranges? Which ones to choose at the table and why – Italian Cuisine

Good and juicy, they are an excellent source of antioxidants that prevent the onset of numerous diseases, including cancer. That's why it's worth eating them

The oranges they are among the winter fruits most present at the table. Always considered a real natural supplement, they are an excellent ally of the body. They are a treasure trove of beneficial properties for the proper functioning of the immune system. "They are rich in vitamin C, which helps absorb iron and has an excellent anti-inflammatory action. They also ensure many fibers that are allied to the intestine, also essential for the body's defenses ", says the nutritionist Valentina Galiazzo, specializing in clinical biochemistry. They are also great for emotional well-being. "They provide a series of substances that support mood, including the B complex vitamins that increase the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin". But which varieties to choose? Better blood oranges or blonde ones? Here are which ones should eat and why.

Blondes are super on bones and eyesight

«Sweet and juicy, blond oranges are rich in pectin and cellulose, fibers that help fight constipation. They then ensure a good dose of carotenoids, including beta-carotene, a pigment that gives the fruit its yellow-orange color. It is a precursor of vitamin A, which is useful not only for the health of eyes and skin, but also of bones. Vitamin A in fact promotes the absorption of calcium, a mineral that strengthens the skeleton and helps protect against the risk of osteoporosis, "says nutritionist Valentina Galiazzo.

Reds are great for the heart and beyond

“This fruit has good amounts of potassium and magnesium, two minerals that act as blood pressure regulators. In addition, it is a source of folate, which prevents the accumulation of homocysteine, an amino acid that increases cardiovascular risk ", explains the expert. Compared to the blond ones, they provide a greater supply of polyphenols, in particular anthocyanins, pigments responsible for the color of the pulp that have various health benefits. "These substances counteract aging by fighting the action of free radicals". They also have a protective action on the heart. «They reduce the risk of getting cardiovascular disease. In particular, they counteract the accumulation of bad cholesterol and triglycerides, which are harmful to the health of the arteries ". Thanks to the richness of these powerful antioxidants, blood oranges are also useful for the prevention of cancer. This is why they are the symbolic fruit of cancer research and the Oranges of Health initiative organized by the AIRC foundation. From 4 February, World Cancer Day, to 14 le Red Oranges for Research, will be available, until exhaustion, in over 6,000 retail outlets throughout Italy. The participating brands will in fact donate 50 cents to AIRC for each package sold which will contribute to the financing of new cancer studies.

Food and asters. At the table with signs in 2021 – Italian Cuisine

Paolo Fox or Rob Brezsny, which one do you prefer? The 2020 predictions didn't go very well, so what do you do, still trust in the stars for this 2021? Among whom the first thing he does when he gets up is to consult the horoscope to know what his day will be like, who buys magazines just to read stars, sometimes we get discouraged if they don't guide us where we want to. After all, this is how the stars get involved in everything. They observe us with attentive eyes. They discuss the our character, our destiny, our relationships. And ours tastes at the table. Maybe it's better to think about those. Yes, because even in terms of culinary preferences, everything is often a question of the zodiac sign: pFor example, the earth signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn), in which the earthly side prevails, that is body, will on average have a more intense relationship with the table, compared to the air signs (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) that eternally idealists,brilliant is light, they do not like constraints, so not even those at the table … they don't have a favorite dish. It depends on the day, the moment, the occasion.

TASTY FORECASTS … SIGN BY SIGN

Happy 2021 ai water marks: the trio Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces that between a standout emotionality and sensitivity mixed with a good dose of mystery and enigmaticity, they stand out at the table for preferring dishes that taste of "love". Love profuse in the preparation, love in the flavor, which must be enveloping and sensual like a hug, love that feeds the soul, as well as the palate, with its own evocative power of distant atmospheres. The Cancer is often a fan of sweets. As well as dishes that remind him of his mother. He is a true mammon, as well as a great traditionalist. Particularly fond of religious holidays and Sunday lunches with the family. "All together passionately". The Scorpio he basically loves strong flavors, spicy tastes like his nature as an "all'arrabbiata" lover. And he is generally the least pretentious diner: he also eats what others find disgusting. He just needs to be noticed, after all he cares little. Ai Fishes like almost everything. Even the fish. As long as every meal is accompanied by good wines. A whale stomach, so to speak.

Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Air signs awake, curious and perceptive. The world seen from their point of view is always interesting, as are the in-depth studies they do to all things, and that is why they are not at all inclined to remain nailed to the table for hours at work, wedding or family lunches. . They are more for the bite and go, they are more interested in what precedes a meal or what comes after. They are in fact attentive to the details of the mise en place, they adore the tastings, the playfulness of eating, the spirit of aggregation deriving from a successful dinner, be amazed and amazed. THE Gemini, to get more specific, even at the table they feel the need to have fun, they are often attracted by appetizers, finger food and buffets, the beautiful rich ones. Between one dance step and the next they can enjoy a delicious taste. There Weight scale instead, an eternal aristocrat, she also highlights her good manners at the table, attention to detail, the predisposition to keep the conversation alive. She basically likes simple dishes, because for Libra the noun "simplicity" is always synonymous with elegance. The Aquarius he is, in principle, contrary, but at the table he does not disdain pasta and beans or bucatino all'amatriciana, especially if presented with an unusual and creative dish. The Aquarium is somewhat the owner of the tavern, with rustic but delicious dishes. However, he does not mind experimenting with recipes. But what he prefers above all else is to organize tables with friends, where the sun beats strong, where there is always an air of joy. He likes to live in a perennial "noisy", "party" atmosphere.

Watch out for the burning flame of the gods fire signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius. There is a great terp in the air. They are not made for small portions, tastings, rather they sadden them. So watch what restaurant you take them to. We must hope that they always have full bellies, otherwise whoever hears them … The three signs tend to eat at the speed of light, a bit like pelican, so much so that often their taste buds don't have time to taste the food because it has already ended up in the stomach. They love meat, of all kinds, better if rare, more rude. Obviously, the dish is complete for them only if it is decorated with some herbs from the garden next to it, always keeping an eye on the gastronomic traditions to which they are particularly attached.

But if we talk about the vegetable garden here we can only think about Earth signs, practically a 'omnivorous nature. A greeting to Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn who are gods true gourmand principles. The Bull has a fine palate, the Virgin is a health trend, the Capricorn just loves to eat. In any case, all three are the joy of those who invite them to lunch or dinner. As they say "they also clean the plate", but not with detergent, making the shoe. It is every grandmother's dream to have grandchildren like that. They eat but also love to cook, indeed they are very vain about their creations, they always emphasize that the inspiration for good food must be taken from them. The Bull teaches you traditional dishes and foods related to territory, the Virgin the products of the earth and the Capricorn, as always, he refuses nothing. Contrary to the saying here, "how do you do you are not wrong". Not to mention that, in order to avoid ancestors and natal planets placed in corners of the sky that affirm the opposite, they love good wine. Indeed, they are totally wary of teetotalers. Advice for those who will invite them in 2021: invent a for them "fusion" menu that harmonizes tradition and innovation, reassurance and risk. You will conquer them in an instant.