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Archive for July, 2006

Quick Notes from Provence 7/28/06 – We Love This Place!

Friday, July 28th, 2006

Nancy and Gary

Welcome to the 2nd update from our yearly trip to Europe to learn and bring back more of what you love to Flavors From Afar! This year we listened to you and ventured west on the 2nd leg of our trip to Provence. We were interested to learn what was different and what was the same about those two Mediterranean neighbors , Italy and France. Well, can you say East Texas and Louisiana? Neighbors with similar climates on the borders but more and more differences as you travel West and North. (more…)

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Quick Notes from Italy – What We’ve Seen So Far

Saturday, July 22nd, 2006

Nancy and Gary Hello folks! We thought we’d check in and let you know what we’re up to here as we end Week 1 of our European adventure seeking out new treasures to bring to you!

  • Truffles anyone? We spent a day with Marco and Moreno Moroni, who have been in the truffle hunting business for 25 years. We learned that there are nine (not two) types of truffles and plan to take orders for direct import this fall. We’ll try to get some smaller ones that you can buy for a somewhat reasonable price, so research a few recipes, start a truffle piggy bank and we’ll talk soon.
  • Fresh pecorino for the holidays - We spent a day with Stefano Sarti, who started Il Forteto with 18 friends in the 1970′s. Today he exports pecorino cheese all over the world, and hasn’t lost his priorities of maintaining traditional processes, giving back to the land, and helping orphans. We had lunch with Stefano and about 100 others in his “family”: a simple meal with pasta, rice, chicken and of course vino and vin santo! Everyone works in the kitchen once a week, even the president! This guy is one of the first Slow Food members and is the real thing. Ask him what is his key to success and he says it’s doing the right thing for others. Ask him what is the most meaningful about his job and he says it’s giving back to the next generation.
  • Italian Linens – We met “Patrizia A” who makes linens for Ralph Lauren and now you. She can make small quantities for us and we are looking at some gorgeous napkins/placemats and kitchen linens. We even scored some beautiful little gift bags, shopping bags, and kitchen towels to bring home with us. The price will be low, so you can get a little bit of Italy if you weren’t able to come this summer.
  • We met Cinzia when she was in Dallas for a friend’s wedding this spring and she met us in Montelupo near Florence yesterday and took us on a whirlwind factory tour of the area. In addition to being a personal shopper, she also organizes Italian weddings and her friend Francesca has a beautiful B&B on the hills of Montelupo overlooking Florence. We’ll give you their contact info when we return.

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Quick Notes from Italy 7/22/06 – What We’ve Seen So Far

Saturday, July 22nd, 2006

Nancy and GaryHello folks! We thought we’d check in and let you know what we’re up to here as we end Week 1 of our European adventure seeking out new treasures to bring to you!

Truffles anyone? We spent a day with Marco and Moreno Moroni, who have been in the truffle hunting business for 25 years. We learned that there are nine (not two) types of truffles and plan to take orders for direct import this fall. We’ll try to get some smaller ones that you can buy for a somewhat reasonable price, so research a few recipes, start a truffle piggy bank and we’ll talk soon. (more…)

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A Hot Summer’s Day Fig

Tuesday, July 11th, 2006

tn_fig-tree.JPG 

Our fig tree is the spawn of my great-grandmother’s tree in Gilmer, Texas.  I love it because of the way the leaves smell in the hot summer shade, because of the filtered light that shines within the tree’s umbrella, and because of the sweet fruit that reminds me of my grandmother at every bite.  Anticipation grows in late June as the little green baby fig balls bud out on the limbs.  (My husband’s plea to prune the tree comes too late and my next-door neighbor is kind enough not to notice the detriment to the grass on “his side”.)  Every year I look for new recipes, so as not to bore my neighbors with their yearly fig preserves at Christmas.  The heat soars in early July and still the stubborn little things hang on to their green youth.  It must be time…but it’s not.  (more…)

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