Destinations

Baked Stuffed Zucchini Flowers or Squash Blossoms

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Isn’t it time you made baked stuffed zucchini flowers (also known as squash blossoms)? They’re an easy, quick, light, healthy, Italian, vegetarian starter. Firstly, should I be calling these baked stuffed squash blossoms or baked stuffed zucchini flowers? It’s a little confusing but squash blossoms and zucchini flowers are the same ingredient. Also acceptable, are baked zucchini blossoms. And then of course to add further confusion, many Europeans call zucchinis, corgettes. Well, that’s just the way it is in our … Read More

Parmigiano Reggiano Maturatio Room www.compassandfork.com

Culinary Delights|Destinations|Foodie Tours|Italy|Travel

Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese: the Whole Delicious Story

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Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, often referred to as the “king of cheese” has been produced using the same recipe for 900 years! And today we are going to a local dairy to see how it is made. So exciting! We are off through the rolling hills and countryside of Emilia Romagna to Caseificio San Pier Damiami in San Prospero. Arriving at 9 am for the morning cheese production, the tour lasts two hours and you see the cheese production process as … Read More

Vinegar in the Attic at Villa San Donnino www.compassandfork.com

Culinary Delights|Destinations|Foodie Tours|Italy|Travel

Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena: more expensive than fine wine?

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How much would you pay for good vinegar? And what is good vinegar anyway? Well we went to the home of vinegar, Modena, Italy to find the answers and boy, oh, boy, were we surprised! Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is nothing like what we expected. The cost, the effort, the quality all very illuminating really. And who knew! Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Let’s start with how traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena (the official name) is made as that … Read More

Italy|Lunch|Recipes

Herb Crumbed Fish Recipe inspired by the Venice Fish Market

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The fresh seafood at the Rialto Market in Venice is very impressive. As Venice is located on the Adriatic Sea, the fish is freshly caught every morning. There is an extensive range of fish, maybe twenty different varieties in total, both whole and filleted, shellfish, such as scampi and shrimp, octopus and good looking calamari. The quality and freshness is first class. There is no “fishy” smell and the stallholders present their fish in an attractive manner with plenty of … Read More

Piazza Dei Signorini Vicenza www.compassandfork.com

Destinations|Italy|Travel

Veneto beyond Venice: Exploring Northern Italy

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Which Italian Region attracts the most tourists? Tuscany? No, it’s Veneto, home to the ever popular and breathtaking town of Venice. But is there anything in Veneto beyond Venice? Yes indeed, it’s easy to see why Veneto is the number one tourist destination, it has everything. Great wine with vineyards nestled in amongst rolling hills, magnificent country villas, classic towns with stunning architecture, fabulous food and stunning alpine scenery. So let’s get right into it. Veneto Facts and Figures The … Read More

Cheeses in Emilia Romagna www.compassandfork.com

Culinary Delights|Destinations|Italy|Travel

The Emilia Romagna Region: Home to Great Italian Food

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The Emilia Romagna region is home to some iconic Italian cities including: Modena (pronounced Mod-in-a, not Mo-DEAN-a, by Italians), famous the world over for its traditional balsamic vinegar. Parma– home to a wide variety of cold meats or small goods including Parma ham or prosciutto. Reggio Emilia– center of the area producing Parmigianino Reggiano cheese. Bologna– a fantastic town famous for its porticoes, food and the home of tortellini and Bolognese sauce (or ragu as it is known locally). Bologna … Read More