The time of the chestnut harvest, from mid-October to mid-November was a great event for the communities of the Vara valley and in some small villages it is still a very heartfelt tradition. Entire families gathered in the chestnut groves to collect not only the fruits but also the leaves, which were then placed in the huts with thatched roofs to be used as litter in the stables during the winter. The chestnut tree (Castanea Sativa) was often called “bread tree” and it can still be considered the symbol of the Vara valley. In fact, it allowed the economic, social and cultural development of the entire territory. Nowadays chestnut woods
Posts in "Recipes and traditions" Category
Focaccia bread
Have you been to Liguria and have you fallen in love with Focaccia?
I know..it happens so often! If you would like to try to do it at home and if you would like to amaze family and friends here you will find my special recipe.
Focaccia Ligure
Recipe:
500 gr soft wheat flour / half cube of brewer’s yeast/ 250 ml water / olio extra vergine d’oliva / 15 gr table salt
Knead the flour with the brewer’s yeast, previously dissolved in the lukewarm water and the table salt. Put the mixture, which will be slightly sticky, in a baking tray greased with 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and let it rise in a warm place for about 40 min. Spread the dough with your hands slightly oiled, without removing it from the baking tray. Whisk 1/2 teacup of extra virgin olive oil with the same quantity of water and spread 2/3 of this mixture onto the focaccia surface. Let rise 1 more hour. Take the oven temperature to 250°C and with your fingertips make the typical focaccia holes on the dough, then wet it with the remaining oil and water emulsion, sprinkle with salt and put immediately in the oven. Cook for about 15-20 min. until the focaccia is golden brown.
Buon appetito!
http://www.liguria.guide/portfolio/ligurian-recipies/
Anchovies Festival Monterosso 2016
Enjoy the taste of our delicious anchovies and come to Monterosso for a funny and tasty experience! The Anchovies Festival in Monterosso is unique and not to be missed while in the Cinque Terre.
Stands downtown will offer to tourists and locals anchovies prepared in different ways: fried, marinated, salted, bruschette…indulge yourself and discover Cinque Terre and our traditions with a local native tour guide.
Tours and tailor-made itineraries for foodies, groups or families are available on request.
Discover more – Enjoy your vacation
www.liguria.guide
Levanto is…
Spending a nice holiday in Levanto means not only having relaxing days at sea but also discovering a town rich in history, culture and food traditions.
Today I want to dwell on a typical Levanto delight, which you will find only in this area of the Riviera di Levante: the “gattafin”.
A unique recipe of its kind, loved by children and grown up and it is true that one leads to another!
They are like Proust’s madeleines, every time I eat them I go back to my childhood and the days spent in the kitchen with my grandmother.
But what is the “gattafin”? It is a large ravioli stuffed with wild herbs prepared with the same procedure of herbs quiche, but the cottage cheese ( ricotta) is present in smaller quantities or absent, eventually fried in hot oil.
Perhaps the term comes from “Gattafura”, a fourteenth word which indicated recipes in which the vegetables were crushed by two layers of pasta. We have notice of them already in cookbooks of the ‘400 and’ 500 and apparently they were served to the rich lords.
Don’t wait any longer, come for a taste!
Sip this….
Sciacchetra’ is a raisin wine from the Cinque Terre. One of the most known and precious of our territory. It’s a blend of three different grapes: Bosco, Albarola and Vermentino. Soon after the harvest the grapes are left to dry on well-ventilated racks until the concentration of natural sugars reaches a potential alcohol level of at least 17%. Doing this process the resulting wine will have intense and sweet flavors. Cinque Terre Sciacchetra wines are intensely colored, golden-yellow in their youth and turning to amber over the years. They offer aromas of honey and white blossoms, with hints of citrus.
Discover more about this wine and its history! Book a wine tasting tour and a walking tour through the vineyards of the Cinque Terre.