It’s funny - something I hadn’t thought about until you wrote it - in France mussels are cheap and the dishes, if not rustic at least casual and familial. And yet they do feel elegant and special. Your fish looks wonderful!
Yes, that's exactly it. They are rustic and casual, even convivial. And not expensive, not even here in the U.S. But it does always feel like an occasion when I make them or enjoy them at a restaurant. There's a small French wine bar/restaurant in Alexandria that my husband and I go to often. The chef/owner is from near Lyon and the place feels a bit like a bouchon. Anyway, I just had mussels there recently in a creamy broth larded with smoky bacon. Heaven.
There is nothing better - or simpler to make - than affogato! I absolutely adore this! And I will be adding the frozen espresso zabaglione to my valentines dinner this year!
Affogato is special, and the fact that it's simple makes it all the more so. Zabaglione can be tricky, but it's just one of those treats that is worth the fuss, and the more you do it the easier it becomes as you learn what cues to look for.
I love an Americano size coffee , with a little milk, first thing in the morning then espresso during the day. And, like many others have said, my favorite dessert is afogato! I live in Italy (Abruzzo!) part time where I do love a good cappuccino -I never drink them in the U.S. because they just don't taste the same.
I can definitely relate. I almost always drank American coffee (with half & half) in the morning here in the U.S. and cappuccino/espresso/macchiato in Italy. I only recently started making cappuccino at home, with Mr. Espresso coffee and a Rocket espresso machine. And thanks to my daughter who worked as a barista, I've learned to make a decent cappuccino in the morning (though I get her to make it for me most of the time ;-). Since then, my American coffee ritual has fallen somewhat by the wayside. As for an affogato, YES, so good and so simple. Love it.
That is the thing I noticed the most when I first started spending time in Italy - American coffee usually just doesn't have the depth and strength of Italian coffee. I can't go back.
I have been meaning to ask you about something different - where do you buy Rizzoli piccante anchovies when you are in Abruzzo? Strangely, while I can buy them in the U.S. on Amazon, I can't seem to find them at the supermarkets in Abruzzo. I live in Citta Sant'Angelo, not far from Torre Mannella :))
Good question: I haven't had much luck recently when I've tried to find them in Abruzzo. I just buy them whenever I come across them, but I never know where that is going to be. The supermarket chains in Abruzzo aren't nearly as well-stocked as the Esselunga chain up north :-/ You might try asking at a well-stocked alimentari. Maybe they would know where to find them.
With our Moka a caffe corretto in the evening, grappa begins a natural sweetness to it. Now that we have a good frother we can easily make cappuccinos at home. I love a Sfogliatella with a strong Napoletano style coffee, if not Mr. Espresso than some Kimbo coffee. Luckily Sam's Deli is a 90 minute drive away and they make very Sfogliatellas.
My favorite way to enjoy an espresso is to "ride for it", stopping about half-way through a ride in the countryside near Siena and sitting in cool shade for a few minutes before getting back out on le Strade Bianche.
My favorite way to have espresso will always be a well made creamy (not frothy) cappuccino in Italy...for well made is not a description I’d often use regarding cappuccinos made in the states. Second to that is an affogato 😋
If I brew, from home, I use a 3 shot moka pot after years of using an Illy espresso machine - pod style. I pour an ounce of cold whole milk into a thick Illy latte glass and then add the black gold. The color is a perfect brownish, the flavor - coffee and not coffee flavored milk. When ordering out, I ask for an iced cortado and pray it's not a cafe latte. In Italy, I just go from bar to bar and ask for a cafe macchiato. Cafe freddo, in the summer does the trick, but most of the time it's premade with sugar which I don't care for. If I need a rest, I'll order a shakerato and wait for the foam to settle down. Can you tell I'm hyped up on cafeine while writing this !
haha. I'm imagining each one of those drinks. I do like cold milk in hot coffee now and again. think caffè macchiato might be my favorite, though I usually have to have a cappuccino first thing in the morning. Usually it goes cappuccino, macchiato, espresso. After that I guess it's munching on coffee beans.
It’s funny - something I hadn’t thought about until you wrote it - in France mussels are cheap and the dishes, if not rustic at least casual and familial. And yet they do feel elegant and special. Your fish looks wonderful!
Yes, that's exactly it. They are rustic and casual, even convivial. And not expensive, not even here in the U.S. But it does always feel like an occasion when I make them or enjoy them at a restaurant. There's a small French wine bar/restaurant in Alexandria that my husband and I go to often. The chef/owner is from near Lyon and the place feels a bit like a bouchon. Anyway, I just had mussels there recently in a creamy broth larded with smoky bacon. Heaven.
I love to finish my Italian dinner with L'afogatto with Amaretto
As for the coffee I am still looking forward the perfect on to brew at home
Oh I love affogato. I don't think I've ever had it with Amaretto. Sounds lovely.
There is nothing better - or simpler to make - than affogato! I absolutely adore this! And I will be adding the frozen espresso zabaglione to my valentines dinner this year!
Affogato is special, and the fact that it's simple makes it all the more so. Zabaglione can be tricky, but it's just one of those treats that is worth the fuss, and the more you do it the easier it becomes as you learn what cues to look for.
I love an Americano size coffee , with a little milk, first thing in the morning then espresso during the day. And, like many others have said, my favorite dessert is afogato! I live in Italy (Abruzzo!) part time where I do love a good cappuccino -I never drink them in the U.S. because they just don't taste the same.
I can definitely relate. I almost always drank American coffee (with half & half) in the morning here in the U.S. and cappuccino/espresso/macchiato in Italy. I only recently started making cappuccino at home, with Mr. Espresso coffee and a Rocket espresso machine. And thanks to my daughter who worked as a barista, I've learned to make a decent cappuccino in the morning (though I get her to make it for me most of the time ;-). Since then, my American coffee ritual has fallen somewhat by the wayside. As for an affogato, YES, so good and so simple. Love it.
That is the thing I noticed the most when I first started spending time in Italy - American coffee usually just doesn't have the depth and strength of Italian coffee. I can't go back.
I have been meaning to ask you about something different - where do you buy Rizzoli piccante anchovies when you are in Abruzzo? Strangely, while I can buy them in the U.S. on Amazon, I can't seem to find them at the supermarkets in Abruzzo. I live in Citta Sant'Angelo, not far from Torre Mannella :))
Good question: I haven't had much luck recently when I've tried to find them in Abruzzo. I just buy them whenever I come across them, but I never know where that is going to be. The supermarket chains in Abruzzo aren't nearly as well-stocked as the Esselunga chain up north :-/ You might try asking at a well-stocked alimentari. Maybe they would know where to find them.
double shot macciato from home semi pro espresso maker- ends up 2 or 3 per day, the dangers of a home espresso machine!!
It is definitely a dangerous appliance.
With our Moka a caffe corretto in the evening, grappa begins a natural sweetness to it. Now that we have a good frother we can easily make cappuccinos at home. I love a Sfogliatella with a strong Napoletano style coffee, if not Mr. Espresso than some Kimbo coffee. Luckily Sam's Deli is a 90 minute drive away and they make very Sfogliatellas.
Yes, a little grappa-spiked espresso can hit the spot. Which Sam's Deli would you be referring to, Michael? I'd love to bite into a good sfogliatella!
In Fresno , Ca. A really nice shop, https://samsitaliandeli.com/
Their Sfogliatellas are frozen, so a heat up at home later. For special occasions they've had them hot, and those were delicious.
Thanks for the link. That's one thing we are lacking in the D.C. area ~ a good Italian deli (emphasis on the word 'good.')
Totally espresso, with possibly a water chaser, standing at an espresso bar.
Nice. Yest to the water chaser.
I like to make a nice pour over with a light roast, a technique I learned from James Hoffman.
That sounds like a good way to enjoy morning coffee, Adri. I haven't yet tried a pour over.
That Frozen Espresso Zabaglione omg 😋
it's a treat!
My favorite way to enjoy an espresso is to "ride for it", stopping about half-way through a ride in the countryside near Siena and sitting in cool shade for a few minutes before getting back out on le Strade Bianche.
Idyllic.
My favorite way to have espresso will always be a well made creamy (not frothy) cappuccino in Italy...for well made is not a description I’d often use regarding cappuccinos made in the states. Second to that is an affogato 😋
I don't think I've ever had a truly good espresso or cappuccino in the U.S. (that I haven't made myself LOL). Creamy > frothy!
Exactly!
My first real gelato was in Salerno over 40 years ago enroute
to Calabria. As for coffee, boring, great quality hot coffee with
cream!
When I'm not drinking Italian coffee in the morning, I love mug of very strong American coffee with half & half and sugar.
Lol, I don’t drink coffee, never have, but my husband makes up for me! He drinks it dark, strong, and with no additions.
That's how my husband likes it as well.
Can't wait to try this coffee!
Really good!
If I brew, from home, I use a 3 shot moka pot after years of using an Illy espresso machine - pod style. I pour an ounce of cold whole milk into a thick Illy latte glass and then add the black gold. The color is a perfect brownish, the flavor - coffee and not coffee flavored milk. When ordering out, I ask for an iced cortado and pray it's not a cafe latte. In Italy, I just go from bar to bar and ask for a cafe macchiato. Cafe freddo, in the summer does the trick, but most of the time it's premade with sugar which I don't care for. If I need a rest, I'll order a shakerato and wait for the foam to settle down. Can you tell I'm hyped up on cafeine while writing this !
haha. I'm imagining each one of those drinks. I do like cold milk in hot coffee now and again. think caffè macchiato might be my favorite, though I usually have to have a cappuccino first thing in the morning. Usually it goes cappuccino, macchiato, espresso. After that I guess it's munching on coffee beans.
My family is from Salerno (and the surrounding area) so I like my coffee STRONG. A spoon should be able to stand up in the cup by itself. Yum.
IMO the best coffee comes from Campania (Naples & Salerno). No comparison. The farther north you get, well...not as good.