TORRENTIAL RAINS RUIN NORTH ITALY'S 2010 VINTAGE

Just back from Piedmont,where people were not really celebrating Ferragosto (15 August) this year. This is a tradition not just in Piedmont but all over Italy, it's the biggest Bank Holiday when everyone who is not on holiday already will leave town (as it's usually too hot to do anything) and go to the nearest open space, whether that be the cooler hills, the mountains, a beach or, in Piedmont, by a river. By the way, the trouts are just gorgeous, and we have a neighbour who is a keen fisherman who often shares the catch with my mother and I when I go home. Anyway, this is a story for another time maybe. Back to Ferragosto, and this year the weather went from 35 degrees one day to 15 degrees the next, with torrential rains, monsoons, hail and high winds. And it lasted for four days. Grape picking is only two weeks away, and I have heard some horror stories already, in how some of the best grapes, Nebbiolo and Dolcetto, have been damanged, up to 50% will be lost. Prices are likely to soar next year so stock up on this year's wines from Piedmont (and Lombardy) as next year they will not be so abundant. But it's not all doom and gloom. Bonarda was less affected, and this lesser known wine, which often develops a natural second fermantion in bottle, making it very attractive to drink and beautiful with strong cheeses such as Castelmagno DOP or Gorgonzola Dolce DOP, is still available. The grape has also found a new home in Argentina, where it makes a much 'stronger' and stiller version of the original wine produced in Piedmont, and you will find some very decent Bonarda at Gaucho Grill. But it has nothing to do with the equally heady, but rounder, Bonarda from Piedmont. I do remain concerned about Nebbiolo though.

FIND ME THE COURGETTE FLOWERS PLEASE

One of the joys of travelling to Italy is shopping at the many local food markets, and finding all those gorgeous foods hard to get over here. One of them is courgette flowers. Occasionally you can find them at Harrods or at some of the best farmers markets, I think I once bought a few at La Fromagerie in Moxon Street. But at what price! So I always buy them in summer, when I am in Italy, where they are plentiful, cheap and available from mos farmers' market stalls.

You never wash them, you just gently clean them with kitchen paper, and then make a light batter of beaten egg, milk, flour and sea salt (just a pinch). You fry them gently in sunflower oil and that's it, angels dance on your tongue.

If the flowers are just ever so slightly past their peek, you gently cut them and use them in an omelette, either on their own or with sliced baby courgettes previously cooked. I cook the courgettes in the microwave for just a couple of minutes for best results when used to make an omelette.

A courgette flower omelette is the ultimate FERRAGOSTO dish, to take on a picnic. Because 15 August is FERRAGOSTO, the day that everyone eats al fresco in Italy. Bit like a Bank Holiday, but with lots of food!

SHAKE IT AT SHAKA (ZULU)

Oh what a night! I dont really know how to describe the opening night (for us mortals) at Shaka Zulu, tipped as London's hottest restaurant - hot, it was. Or sometimes extremely cold, depending on whether you caught a blast of air conditioning or not. The queues around the block reminded me of the queues at the Seashell in Lisson Grove - oops, perhaps I should be more trendy and say the queues outside the Hard Rock Cafe'. But when I was young(er) and used to go to the Seashell, the waiters used to come out and give tastings of chips, morsels of fish and other goodies to those in the queues, who would continue to faithfully queue until a table became available. That was PR! Shaka Zulu, you missed trick No. 1! Maybe peanuts are not very typical of South Africa, but a few peanuts at the free (for a time) bar would have helped a lot. Interior wise, this place is absolutely stunning and well worth all the delays they faced when waiting for the statues, the carvings, the walls, to arrive. It is amazing. Should I say this? But it reminded me of central part of Westfield London, where you are on the floor above and you look down into the atrium if you know what I mean. This architectural feature makes the most of the natural height of the building, and there is even an up and down escalator, shopping centre style! Cant wait to go back and see the whole thing in daylight - if there is any daylight, I presume so as the facade is all glass. Really, would love to see it in daylight.
The drinks were gorgeous, very good sparkling South African wine, decent still white wine, and the cocktails looked very interesting. But the queues were far too long. A journalist friend of mine gave up after queuing for half an hour and eventually left without having had a single drink or anything to eat at all. Missed trick No. 2: if you invite 800 people to fill the place, limit the drinks to sparkling and still wine, beer and maybe ONE cocktail (prepared in big batches) if you really want to showcase the cocktail making skill of the barmen (gorgeous staff by the way, and very skilled). But because they did things so well and so properly, every cocktail took 15 minutes to make and this is not on at an opening of this scale. Wish I could tell you about the food dear friends, but I can't - they didnt feed me, or any of the mortals upstairs. The super-mortals who got to do downstairs and share a meal with King Goodwill will have to tell me all about it. At midnight though, some little canapes came out, and I could not help by wonder, are these the left overs? But by that time I was too hungry to care, so I had one deep fried prawn (tail, shell, eyes and all, like a whitebait but it was a fully fledged prawn - not the prettiest of sights) and a skewer of what could have been ostrich meat - very tasty, but on the sweet side, maybe brushed with a honey marinade? South African cuisine is not a cuisine I am very familiar with as yet, but I intend to rectify that sooner than later.
The highlight? Seeing King Goodwill and his wife, what an absolutely charming man, very regal in every sense. And the zulu players, these guys played non-stop for hours, it was mesmerising rather than boring, they must have a hidden code of how one can take a quiet break whilst the other two make more noise, so that it still sounds like three people are drumming and singing. Because it is simply not humanly possible to keep up the beat and the singing for two hours solid. Great bodies too, by the way!
The downlight? For a first night, and of such a scale, I think Shaka Zulu did very well. And maybe they were right to serve nothing to the mere mortals. To serve morsels to the masses may not have achieved the purpose of showcasing Zulu cuisine, which is still largely unknown over here, people may not have understood it.

I am interested in the food. So, anyone willing to join me for food at Shaka Zulu?

I remain unsure of which crowd they are aiming at. Camden party people? Will they spend the money or will they just dance? Will Amy Winehouse become a regular? This place is practically on her doorstep.

KIDS EAT FREE AT SPAGHETTI HOUSE

KIDS EAT FREE AT SPAGHETTI HOUSE DURING KIDS’ WEEK
Located in Central London near many theatres, Spaghetti House is a great family choice this summer, and food is free for the kids between 13 August and 3 September
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If you are spending summer in the City, enjoying the many London theatres during the action-packed Kids’ Week with all its theatrical fun, you will also need to feed the little ones as well as keeping them entertained.

Family-friendly, informal and welcoming, Spaghetti House makes everyone happy around the table. Mums and dads can enjoy a glass of wine and a plate of pasta, a summer main course salad or a sharing platter, and kids have their own special menu – for free. For every paying adult eating from the a-la-carte menu one child up to the age of 10 eats free from the children’s menu between 13 August and 3 September lunch and dinner, at Spaghetti House 30, St Martin’s Lane WC2 near Trafalgar Square and Spaghetti House 3, Bressenden Place, Victoria SW1.

In Italy it is traditional for children to choose their meal from the ‘grown ups’ menu. Spaghetti House encourages children to eat healthily, developing their taste and their eating experiences as they grow. Children’s menu dishes have been selected form the main menu, they taste the same, but are served in smaller portions. Children love Ceci Calabresi – chickpeas with spicy Italian sausage, Bruschetta with tomato and fresh basil, Chicken Caesar Salad and Brodo di Pollo, shredded smoked chicken with fettuccine, basil oil and peas in a chicken broth. Differently delicious from the chicken and chips too often found on children’s menus, and very healthy too.

So if you are going to the Criterion Theatre close to St Martin’s Lane and showing the 39 Steps, or catching a Billy Elliot matinee at the Victoria Palace Theatre in Victoria, take a refreshing break as there is a Spaghetti House nearby.

Summer in the City has never tasted so good and at an average of £20 for an adult three course meal with wine, school holidays and theatre outings are easy on your pocket too.

Visist www.spaghettihouse.co.uk for other offers and for a full list of restaurants.

WINE TASTING DINNER PREVIEW - 20 SEPTEMBER

Just thought I would post this little preview, as I am holding a wine tasting dinner on MOnday 20 September, with the theme 'Antinor's Italy'. The Antinori family, original from Tuscany, are spreading their wings (or better, their wine roots) to the rest of Italy. With an established reputation for quality Tuscan wines, they are now the 'company' behind many other quality Italian wines, whose winemakers may not have had the money to invest. Antinori have come in, have provided the financial backing to allow many good wines to blossom and prevent other precious ones from disappearing, and cleverly have ensured that the name was not changed. So in Piemonte you now find the delicous Dolcetto from Prunotto backed by Antinori, and in Veneto you find Prosecco from the Antinori's 'estate'. I am not unhappy about this, as I would rather see these autochtonos vines doing well and making good wines than seeing them disappear. I will also present a three course dinner of Italian specialities. Please make a note in your diary now.

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU KID

There is this bottle of Barolo which has been staring at me for sometime. It's here, in my office, and the excuse for keeping it there is that, at the moment, it's too hot to drink it. It's not superlative as Barolo goes, it's made by Terredavino (which in Italy is a supermarket brand) but here in England is considered quite OK. ANd it's a 1999, Paesi Tuoi, so can't be that bad! I am thinking of home, of my cellar where my late father stored his prized wines so lovingly for so many years. I am thinking of the unlabelled bottles of Barolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, beautifully lined up like soldiers, with just 'Barolo, 1966' written on it. I also remember opening a bottle once, which must have been 1959 if not older, and putting it on the sink in disgust as it smelt like pure vinegar. I forgot about that bottle, until the morning after I went in the kitchen and thought that angels were having breakfast. The most amazing aroma pervaded the place, it was like being in the middle of a violet field. That wine took 12 hours or more to open up, and no, I did not drink it for breakfast, (although I did have a quick slurp, for tasting purposes of course), and corked it. Later on that morning I decanted it because there was a lot of sediment, and although it was starting to fade, I thought I died and gone to heaven. I can still smell and taste that wine. For those of you who want to me 'friends', I still have a bottle of that wine, as well as that looking at me in the office.....

I HAD A YUMMY BREAKFAST

I am not the best morning person, in fact, I will do anything for another 15 minutes in bed. So the thought of having to get up at 6.30 am to wash my hair and travel for an hour to meet a client at 8.30 is never something I look forward to, but the promise of breakfast somewhat lured me. I needed to try this breakfast anyway, as I have to be 'in the know'. But I wasn't expecting it to be so very moorish, so good and still healthy in every sense of the word. So when I arrived at Tossed in St Martin's Lane I was ready for coffee - and this was from fairtrade, organic, 100% arabica beans, roasted to order, then ground, so very very fresh. They did ask if I wanted an americano with milk - really! but apparently people ask for milk. It's worse than asking for a latte after a three course meal, dont you knwo what you are doing to your stomach people? Anyway, the new breakfast 'toasties' were utterly, utterly delicious. They must have read my mind because I did want Ham and cheese but ordered Ham and egg, anyway I got ham and cheese which was the client's choice instead. Really tasty, crunchy outside and soft inside. Loved it. Wish I had room for one of the Tossed smoothies, my absolute favourite, but could not manage another thing. There is always tomorrow.......

A SUMMER OF CHAMPAGNE - WHY NOT?

Sip your way to summer at Pescatori, the Italian fish and seafood restaurant and bar in Mayfair’s Dover Street, W1.

From mid July to 28 August, Pescatori is offering a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne with any pre-booked two or three course meals, lunch and dinner. Two courses with a glass of champagne are offered at £21.50 and three at £25. The Champagne Menu, which includes classic dishes and seasonal favourites, has been specially created in collaboration with Laurent Perrier to create the perfect food and drink pairing for the summer months.

The delightful citrus notes of the bouquet in Laurent Perrier, followed by a slight yeastiness and biscuity flavour perfectly complement Freschino di piselli con salmone – a chilled pea soup, smoked salmon and crème fraiche and Sgombro Affumicato - hot-smoked mackerel with celeriac remoulade, beetroot & horseradish coulis. The champagne also makes an excellent pairing with Trota di Mare – seared wild sea-trout, whit asparagus and pea-shoot salad.

Other summer delicacies on the menu include Aletta di Razza – pan-fried skate, Calamari Grigliati – grilled chilli flavoured squid with mint & coriander salad, and there are also several vegetarian choices. Coupled with a tempting selection of fresh and light seasonal desserts, the menu is a perfect choice for hot summer days.

Enjoy the Champagne menu in the elegant and cool surroundings of Pescatori, 11 Dover Street, Mayfair W1, Tel: 020 7493 2652 or go for an outdoor table at the contemporary Pescatori 57 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia W1 Te: 020 7580 3289 lwww.pescatori.co.uk

THE GREENBRIER RESORT

And I am starting with a rather different place, in wild and beautiful West Virginia, Mountain Mama or thereabout. Here at the Greenbrier Resort, a fantastic resort set over 6.500 acres of lush landscape. Here you will find a restaurant called Prime 44 West. The Prime tells you it's a steakhouse and the 44 West is a tip off to baskeball fans that Jerry West (who wore the number) is involved. Here, it is thought that the best cornbread is being baked. This cornbread has wone Best of Show at the Virginia State Fair. The recipe is from Cathy Justice, the wife of the local hero Jim Justice who bought the ailing Greenbrier and brought it back to its former splendour, rather than letting it go to an international hotel corporatation. Well done Jim! And thanks for saving the cornbread. The recipe is simple and terrific
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/16 teaspoon salt (but you can use 1/2 spoon it tastes better)
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg slightly beaten
3/4 cup canola oil (rapeseed oil to us in the UK)

heat oven to 425 degrees F
prepare an 8 x 8 inches oiled pan (or non stick)
mix all dry ingredients
Add liquids (best if you mix all the liquids until creamy and smooth and then add to the dry ingredients)
Stir softly to mix
Bake for 30 minutes

use a toothpick inserted in the centre of the bread and it if it comes out clean, it's done.

Gorge yourself

AT LAST, I AM BACK BLOGGING

Hello everyone, no I have not disappeared in a black hole, although I have had a tough time recently. The problem has been that my login details were not allowing me to access my blog and write new material.
Now I am back. Shame because you have missed on a lot of juicy information I really wanted to let you know, but it's too old now to start digging it up again. So I will start afresh, and feed you new, exciting, juicy food-wine-restaurant news.
Watch this space!
thank you for waiting.
Luisa