What a beautiful foraging story! I have never tasted ‘bruscandoli’ but I’ve transplanted my Greek habit of picking wild greens to Wales, different plants but still delicious.
Great to see that the Venetians are into "bruscandoli" and you too. Sharp memory from a sharp taste? I know the Greeks love their wild greens too. Less so here in Catalonia but there are a couple of popular ones. Fantastic post BTW. Thanks for the follow. Now I'm following you back because you write so wonderfully.
I really enjoyed reading this and although I now spend most of my Italian time near sansepolcro, I spent an idyllic summer in Asolo eating amazing food and studying with the great baritone from Bassano del Grappa, Tito Gobbi. I hope you don’t get the horrible concrete.
Hi Lizzie, thank you for your comment. I grew up near Bassano and Asolo, and a childhood friend of mine is from Sansepolcro... the world is tiny! Wonderful places, all of them.
Hi Sinu, the world really is tiny – and I am not even Italian!! They are wonderful places, but I am continually astonished by how many incredibly beautiful places there are in Italy! Am sending you a link to a piece I wrote a while back about discovering lentils when I was staying near Asolo – I think in Maser – which I think you might enjoy! https://thedownsizingdiva.substack.com/p/how-i-fell-in-love-with-lentils-and
Oh Maser! Did you tour the famous Palladian villa there? I haven't yet but it's been in my bucket list for ages. Thanks for the link, I'm heading there now (huge fan of lentils and pulses).
I've never had them and am so curious now! Might they still be available in May - that's when I'll be in Venice. Another lovely and info packed post from you!
May might be too late for bruscandoli (unless you plan to be here on the very first days of the month), but asparagus and young artichokes will still be there for you!
I’m longing to taste these foraged hops and the other spring vegetables you mention, Sinù. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I’ve never made a risotto, but one made with bruscandoli does sound delicious. Here I imagine I would make it with asparagus. The image of your little girl picking and playing with you in the fields made me smile. I hope this beautiful bounty is preserved for all of you.
Thank you, Ruth. So glad you lime the post. Weirdly enough, risotto is one of those dishes we make on a weekly basis but for which we have never come around to writing down a recipe. It's super easy to make, but you have to use your senses a lot and play around with ingredients. I guess it's one of those foods that are best learned by watching rather than reading. So, here's a video recipe in case you want to try it (asparagus) https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=A9vBLU8DlJo5Ut4O&v=RnQWYVBqirw&feature=youtu.be
What a sensual piece of writing - If only one could experience the smell and taste of these herbs (the boiled egg and its ideal accompanying greenery literally made my mouth water - I imagined a fine drift of sea salt on it and that mouthful immediately seducing me into closing my eyes in bliss and savouring the textures ….) Aaaaaah it’s on my list ….
What a revelation this piece of writing is !Thankyou for sharing your passion here !
I do hope you are thriving dear Sinù with the onset of Spring and the little one isn’t playing football inside or churning up your digestion !Pregnancy certainly alters taste - I found coffee tasted metallic as did tea…It was months after delivery before I could cope with coffee again - tragic !!!🤗🎶🎶🙏❤️
Darling Sinù - Lord only knows !Im honestly amnestic now regarding all three of my pregnancies (cannot recall anything of significance that occurred in those periods - only dim recollections of the three deliveries and those six weeks where one exists in a fug of bone weariness and mild resentment …Felt very Bovine indeed 😃) Once I finished the breast feeding I restarted coffee apprehensively and found to my delight , my brain came back as well !!Still can’t survive without my morning hit !( cut back on the 6 to 8 other heart starters I had to keep going when I developed palpitations !!) Moderation is the key ….Im enjoying the perfect Autumn weather as the leaves change colour and a mild chill enters the morning air …..Always delighted to hear from you !!
Turns out, she is a bit of a football player, indeed! Ahah.
I can't eat boiled eggs, can't stand the smell. So I'm trying to incorporate them into recipes for added protein. Other than that, I'm not too fond of garlic lately. Luckily it's just these two for now.
I couldn't live without coffee, Nedra... how did you survive??
What a fabulous education on this greenery! I would never have known. There are so many hidden edible plants and hopefully, they remain with us in the wild despite urban growth. Thank you.
Thank you for this delicious lesson. I have seen many of these wild things in the market but have been intimidated to try and cook them. You have given me a bit of courage.
Of course once you pointed it out the airport is in a terrible place. I would like a train connection to make getting there easier, but not at the cost of losing more lagoon. I certainly didn't move to Venice thinking life would be easy.
Oh don't be intimidated, they're all very straightforward to use! Ask the grocerer and they will give you plenty of ideas and instructions, or send me a DM :)
The airport was built between the 1950s-1960s, not sure whether the laws that are meant to preserve the lagoon ecosystem had been already put in place, to be honest. Probably not? Still, what the heck were they thinking?
I'm a big fan of traveling by train. So, this is a tricky situation, isn't it? I guess intentions, and how things are actually done, do matter here.
Hello Sinu .. Fascinating insight in to Wild Hops and Foraging in Veneto .. and your boyfriend"s Bruscandoli Risotto looks delizioso 😋😋. I would definitely eat this ... I can't believe that Development companies are going to come in and change the countryside , which will be irreversible , it is so sad.. England is used to it now. They have devastated so many areas of woodlands and forest , told people they had to leave their homes , compulsory , for a railway line , that cost absolute millions £££ and now it isnt going to happen. Wildlife left with no homes n So very sad for everyone.. xx
Hi Anne, thank you for your lovely comment. Boyfriend is the king of risotto in this family, you should taste his porcini and saffron one... to die for!
Yes, the loss of livelihoods (farmland) and natural habitat are very problematic aspects here. I'm sorry to hear this kind of invasive development has been eating up the UK, too 😪
🙋. Risotto ai porcini e zafferano e Delizioso. I would love to try it. My eldest son is a chef , 30 years as a chef , I must ask him to make me this dish.
Britain is a mess .. The seas are full of sewage , the countryside full of rubbish , wildlife , woods , forests , uncared for. Or disappeared altogether 😢😢 we have lost fields and fields to Housing now. 😢.
Enlightening! I have never heard of foraging for wild hops. We forage for wild mustard greens this time of year to add to salads. I'm sorry to hear that development is going into your foraging area.Thank you for an interesting read.
I'll be staying in Vicenza for a week in the middle of May, my first visit to the Veneto. It might be too late to enjoy these foraged goodies, but I'll keep an eye out for a Venetian risotto anyway. Thanks!
I grew up near Vicenza! The town and its northern province are true gems. You should be able to find wild hop on the prealps area until later on in May. The milder the temperatures the longer the collection season usually.
I’m going to come there so you can teach me. There are so many recipes you bring up with food I forgot about since leaving Catania. I miss it daily now that I’m older and somewhat wiser. Make room at your dinner table. LOL
What a beautiful foraging story! I have never tasted ‘bruscandoli’ but I’ve transplanted my Greek habit of picking wild greens to Wales, different plants but still delicious.
Great to see that the Venetians are into "bruscandoli" and you too. Sharp memory from a sharp taste? I know the Greeks love their wild greens too. Less so here in Catalonia but there are a couple of popular ones. Fantastic post BTW. Thanks for the follow. Now I'm following you back because you write so wonderfully.
Thank you so much Brett! What wild herbs do you forage for in Catalonia? Do tell more!
I’m not really the one to ask for that info, I’m afraid. I’ve only ever seen and picked wild fennel and rosemary but I know there’s a lot more.
So much good info here. I also love foraging but haven’t done it recently. Very inspiring!
Thank you, glad you like the post, Lolly! Foraging can be a lot of fun, can't it.
I really enjoyed reading this and although I now spend most of my Italian time near sansepolcro, I spent an idyllic summer in Asolo eating amazing food and studying with the great baritone from Bassano del Grappa, Tito Gobbi. I hope you don’t get the horrible concrete.
Hi Lizzie, thank you for your comment. I grew up near Bassano and Asolo, and a childhood friend of mine is from Sansepolcro... the world is tiny! Wonderful places, all of them.
Hi Sinu, the world really is tiny – and I am not even Italian!! They are wonderful places, but I am continually astonished by how many incredibly beautiful places there are in Italy! Am sending you a link to a piece I wrote a while back about discovering lentils when I was staying near Asolo – I think in Maser – which I think you might enjoy! https://thedownsizingdiva.substack.com/p/how-i-fell-in-love-with-lentils-and
Oh Maser! Did you tour the famous Palladian villa there? I haven't yet but it's been in my bucket list for ages. Thanks for the link, I'm heading there now (huge fan of lentils and pulses).
The terrible thing is that I didn’t! I went to have a look but it was closed!
One good reason to visit again I guess ;)
Yes!!
I've never had them and am so curious now! Might they still be available in May - that's when I'll be in Venice. Another lovely and info packed post from you!
May might be too late for bruscandoli (unless you plan to be here on the very first days of the month), but asparagus and young artichokes will still be there for you!
I’m longing to taste these foraged hops and the other spring vegetables you mention, Sinù. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I’ve never made a risotto, but one made with bruscandoli does sound delicious. Here I imagine I would make it with asparagus. The image of your little girl picking and playing with you in the fields made me smile. I hope this beautiful bounty is preserved for all of you.
Thank you, Ruth. So glad you lime the post. Weirdly enough, risotto is one of those dishes we make on a weekly basis but for which we have never come around to writing down a recipe. It's super easy to make, but you have to use your senses a lot and play around with ingredients. I guess it's one of those foods that are best learned by watching rather than reading. So, here's a video recipe in case you want to try it (asparagus) https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=A9vBLU8DlJo5Ut4O&v=RnQWYVBqirw&feature=youtu.be
Sending hugs!
Sinù xx
What a sensual piece of writing - If only one could experience the smell and taste of these herbs (the boiled egg and its ideal accompanying greenery literally made my mouth water - I imagined a fine drift of sea salt on it and that mouthful immediately seducing me into closing my eyes in bliss and savouring the textures ….) Aaaaaah it’s on my list ….
What a revelation this piece of writing is !Thankyou for sharing your passion here !
Hello Nedra! So happy to read your comment my dear. Thank you so much for reading 🙏🙏
I do hope you are thriving dear Sinù with the onset of Spring and the little one isn’t playing football inside or churning up your digestion !Pregnancy certainly alters taste - I found coffee tasted metallic as did tea…It was months after delivery before I could cope with coffee again - tragic !!!🤗🎶🎶🙏❤️
Darling Sinù - Lord only knows !Im honestly amnestic now regarding all three of my pregnancies (cannot recall anything of significance that occurred in those periods - only dim recollections of the three deliveries and those six weeks where one exists in a fug of bone weariness and mild resentment …Felt very Bovine indeed 😃) Once I finished the breast feeding I restarted coffee apprehensively and found to my delight , my brain came back as well !!Still can’t survive without my morning hit !( cut back on the 6 to 8 other heart starters I had to keep going when I developed palpitations !!) Moderation is the key ….Im enjoying the perfect Autumn weather as the leaves change colour and a mild chill enters the morning air …..Always delighted to hear from you !!
Turns out, she is a bit of a football player, indeed! Ahah.
I can't eat boiled eggs, can't stand the smell. So I'm trying to incorporate them into recipes for added protein. Other than that, I'm not too fond of garlic lately. Luckily it's just these two for now.
I couldn't live without coffee, Nedra... how did you survive??
Have a wonderful weekend :)
What a fabulous education on this greenery! I would never have known. There are so many hidden edible plants and hopefully, they remain with us in the wild despite urban growth. Thank you.
https://writerswrites.com/
Thank you so much, Sally. Nature is generous and bountiful, we should learn to take better care of her! Hope you have a wonderful day 💚
Thank you for this delicious lesson. I have seen many of these wild things in the market but have been intimidated to try and cook them. You have given me a bit of courage.
Of course once you pointed it out the airport is in a terrible place. I would like a train connection to make getting there easier, but not at the cost of losing more lagoon. I certainly didn't move to Venice thinking life would be easy.
Oh don't be intimidated, they're all very straightforward to use! Ask the grocerer and they will give you plenty of ideas and instructions, or send me a DM :)
The airport was built between the 1950s-1960s, not sure whether the laws that are meant to preserve the lagoon ecosystem had been already put in place, to be honest. Probably not? Still, what the heck were they thinking?
I'm a big fan of traveling by train. So, this is a tricky situation, isn't it? I guess intentions, and how things are actually done, do matter here.
On a merrier note...
Buona Festa di San Marco 🌹🦁 e Buona Liberazione!
Buona Festa di San Marco 🌹🦁 e Buona Liberazione!
(If only there were trains to America! My grandmother used to take the Queen Mary)
How adventurous, though! Pure old world charm....
Drooling just reading this...
Spring is probably the best season for foodies, here in Venice!
Hello Sinu .. Fascinating insight in to Wild Hops and Foraging in Veneto .. and your boyfriend"s Bruscandoli Risotto looks delizioso 😋😋. I would definitely eat this ... I can't believe that Development companies are going to come in and change the countryside , which will be irreversible , it is so sad.. England is used to it now. They have devastated so many areas of woodlands and forest , told people they had to leave their homes , compulsory , for a railway line , that cost absolute millions £££ and now it isnt going to happen. Wildlife left with no homes n So very sad for everyone.. xx
Hi Anne, thank you for your lovely comment. Boyfriend is the king of risotto in this family, you should taste his porcini and saffron one... to die for!
Yes, the loss of livelihoods (farmland) and natural habitat are very problematic aspects here. I'm sorry to hear this kind of invasive development has been eating up the UK, too 😪
Ciao Sinu
🙋. Risotto ai porcini e zafferano e Delizioso. I would love to try it. My eldest son is a chef , 30 years as a chef , I must ask him to make me this dish.
Britain is a mess .. The seas are full of sewage , the countryside full of rubbish , wildlife , woods , forests , uncared for. Or disappeared altogether 😢😢 we have lost fields and fields to Housing now. 😢.
Ciao for now 😍
Please do, you're in for a treat! Thank you for reading, Anne, it's such a pleasure to connect 😊 wishing you a wonderful day!
Enlightening! I have never heard of foraging for wild hops. We forage for wild mustard greens this time of year to add to salads. I'm sorry to hear that development is going into your foraging area.Thank you for an interesting read.
Hi Vicki, thank you for your comment and kind words, much appreciated.
Apparently, wild mustard can be found in Italy, too, but I haven't tried it yet. So much to learn 🌱
I'll be staying in Vicenza for a week in the middle of May, my first visit to the Veneto. It might be too late to enjoy these foraged goodies, but I'll keep an eye out for a Venetian risotto anyway. Thanks!
I grew up near Vicenza! The town and its northern province are true gems. You should be able to find wild hop on the prealps area until later on in May. The milder the temperatures the longer the collection season usually.
Oh, good news. Thanks!
Nicely done, Sinu! I appreciate the care and research you put into your work. The risotto caught my eye...
Thank you Christiana, so kind of you. We love a good risotto!
Mamma mia, that risotto looks amazing!
Yummy isn't it 😋
Thank you. I learn more and more about foods I want to try from you!!!
Grazie Mark, this makes me so happy 🙏
I’m going to come there so you can teach me. There are so many recipes you bring up with food I forgot about since leaving Catania. I miss it daily now that I’m older and somewhat wiser. Make room at your dinner table. LOL
You and Patti are welcome anytime!
Grazie. We’ll be there for dinner. lol
Great! The table is set 😉