Snippets of Summer
A roundup of things eaten, read, bought and discovered
Welcome to Dash of Prosecco, a newsletter dedicated to good food, slow travel, and life on the Venetian mainland. Thank you for reading.
June has been a HOT, sweaty month. But the sandals are out, and so am I.
Before baby arrives this September, I'm squeezing in as many outings as I possibly can. Catching up with old friends and chasing every whim.
There will come a time for all things cozy and tender, an avalanche of family love and softer days. Summer, however, is being savored in the bright open.
So far, the new season has brought plenty of excitement: we dined out in Venice after a long time, drove to the Veneto mountains, and searched for an elusive rose in Padua. I’ve also ordered new (Venice-themed) books, discovered cool initiatives to keep Venice alive, and read inspiring newsletters I can’t wait to share with you.
Here’s a roundup of all the lovely things eaten, read, bought and discovered in these melting early summer days.
DINNER IN VENICE
As soon as the late spring rain ended, we knew it was time for a romantic dinner in Venice, the city where we first met. A friend of mine invited us to a new place where he works as a chef, and we couldn’t say no (and wouldn’t!).
I worried about the restaurant being too close to a main pathway to Rialto. Eating out should be about being in the moment, and tourist hotspots are too distracting for an intimate experience. Luckily, the restaurant is safely tucked away in a small calle that only the locals seem to know about.
We ate fried glasswort—it was my first time (loved it)—and Pier tried some of their fish classics.
You can read more about our dinner in Venice here.
MOUNTAIN AIR & STONE COTTAGES
With coastal temperatures rising, we drove to the mountains of northern Veneto to breathe in the fresh air and rest our eyes on open vistas.
The slopes and valleys are dotted with agriturismo—family-run farms with restaurants and, in some cases, rooms for staying the night.
We stopped at one such spot for a different kind of Sunday lunch: organic, farm-to-table, vegetable-forward, with a sprinkle of edible flowers and herbs.
We lunched on many nice things, like these polenta gnocchi shaped into cute quenelles.
They were phenomenally tender, nicely cooked through (you don’t want dry polenta dumplings), and came with a punchy sauce of ripe cherry tomatoes that brightened the dish really well.
One of those recipes I’d want to replicate at home!
For me, the best part of eating out is getting inspired to try new things at home.
Before leaving, I got a bag full of goodies from the farm shop (I will share a complete list), including the most colourful and delightfully scented dried flowers. I can’t wait to decorate all sorts of cakes, ice creams, and desserts with these specks of rainbow (panna cotta, I’m thinking of you).
All the details about this lovely organic farm and little-known part of the Veneto are coming up for paid subs in July. Join us via the button below.
A BOTANICAL QUEST IN PADUA
On a scorching Friday, I called up some friends and took a train to Padua, hoping to find a rare rose I had recently read about.
We made our way to the university’s botanical gardens: a lush and tranquil oasis in the heart of the old city. Some of the trees here are as old as 400 years.
As we strolled past the beds of medicinal herbs and rows of potted succulents, we examined each rose bush in bloom. The "rosa moceniga" is intoxicating with the scent of ripe raspberries, and its pink petals have a silvery sheen, or so they say.
When it was discovered in the overgrown park of an abandoned villa in the Venetian countryside, a fiery debate erupted among rose experts worldwide. Was it an unknown rare cultivar or just an ordinary rose? Regardless, a myth was born.
And according to the book below (highly recommended), one of these rose bushes was secretly planted by an unknown visitor in these very gardens.
Did we find it? Perhaps…
NEW VENICE BOOKS
Speaking of books, here are two new releases for your summer reading list:
This Earthly Globe by Andrea di Robilant - The author of the rose story we mentioned earlier has just released a new book about geographical discoveries and navigators. Like all of his works, Venice is central to the narrative. A must-read for geography and history enthusiasts.
The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier - A new novel from the globally bestselling author of Girl with a Pearl Earring. This family saga centers around a female glassblower in Murano and features… time jumps! Sounds like a fun ride.
KEEPING VENICE ALIVE
Two local initiatives worth supporting:
The Benedetto Marcello Conservatory - Proceeds from guided tours and access to the rooftop views help fund renovation projects and provide scholarships for students in need.
Venice Tap Water - A campaign to reduce the use of plastic bottles in Venice and promote the use of free drinking fountains available throughout the city. If you find a broken/damaged/out-of-service fountain, report it via Instagram, and they will coordinate with local authorities to have it repaired.
WHAT TO READ ON SUBSTACK
Finishing off this roundup, here is some baking inspiration, plus food for thought for those of you thinking of starting a new life in Italy.
- shows you how to transform fig leaves into an aromatic powder that enlivens baked goods and desserts.
- shares a guide to using tea and herbal infusions in your baking.
- ’s yogurt flatbreads are my go-to oven-less bread fix for summer (I double the amount of yogurt for mine).
- , writer and accredited guide, sets the record straight about moving to Italy as an American expat. The honest truth.
Thank you for reading and I’ll see you soon in July.
Take care,
Sinù xx
About Me
My name is Sinù Fogarizzu and I’m a vegetarian food & travel writer from the mainland of Venice, Italy. In 2021, I launched Dash of Prosecco, a Substack newsletter about learning to cook and Venetian cuisine, that has now expanded into slow and sustainable travel. With the new “Slow Venice” column I hope to open up a space for dialogue on ways we can all contribute to a healthier tourism model for the floating city.
Browse my archive and recommended newsletters and come find me on Instagram & Twitter.
Lovely photos and writing. Great book suggestions as well. Thank you Sinu for this.
There are so many lovely things in this post – a real treat for my Monday morning. And particularly heartwarming to see a shout out for Kitty Tait – I used to live in the same village as her and swell as being an amazing baker, she's such a fantastic human being!