Folks

I'm joining a group of friends on Villa holiday to Tuscany in mid-June
(phew what a scorcher) and it's being narrowed down to villas in two
locations: Torrenieri (nr Montalcino) and Radicofani (nr Montepulciano).

By chance I was wondering if anyone here happened to have stayed anywhere
near here and had a restaurant recommendation or two? Yes I am googling on
this topic at the moment as well !!

Whilst on the topic today, I had the day off to sort out some stuff around
the flat but also popped into Lewisham and back to the Italian deli with
wonderfully friendly staff - a rarity these days in London - that I briefly
went to last month.

Had a look around all the fresh meats and cheese (and had a lovely panini
with basil, bocconcino (the baby mozzarella balls) and sundried tomatoes as
I left. A real find ! It's called "Gennaro". In fact someone has written
about it in their blog with some nice pictures:

http://tastytreats.wordpress.com/200...vely-lewisham/

Richard

"Richard Dixon" <rdngemail> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:couk
> Folks
>
> I'm joining a group of friends on Villa holiday to Tuscany in mid-June
> (phew what a scorcher) and it's being narrowed down to villas in two
> locations: Torrenieri (nr Montalcino) and Radicofani (nr Montepulciano).
>
> By chance I was wondering if anyone here happened to have stayed anywhere
> near here and had a restaurant recommendation or two? Yes I am googling on
> this topic at the moment as well !!
>> Richard

I recommend you to www.slowtrav.com, where you'll find that area extremely
well covered for reviews. Not that far from Montalcino is Trequanda, where
I remember liking very much a restaurant called Duca di something. I'll
look it up. For me Tuscan food isn't the most interesting here, but the
ingredients are high quality and fresh and it is good, if not genius.

"Giusi" <decobabeone> wrote in
news:5vkk9uF1mvlq4U1:

> I recommend you to [..], where you'll find that area
> extremely well covered for reviews. Not that far from Montalcino is
> Trequanda, where I remember liking very much a restaurant called Duca
> di something. I'll look it up. For me Tuscan food isn't the most
> interesting here, but the ingredients are high quality and fresh and
> it is good, if not genius.

Thanks Judith - v v useful.

Richard

On 21 Jan, 22:22, "Giusi" <decobabe> wrote:

> I recommend you towww.slowtrav.com, where you'll find that area extremely
> well covered for reviews.  Not that far from Montalcino is Trequanda, where
> I remember liking very much a restaurant called Duca di something.  I'll
> look it up.  For me Tuscan food isn't the most interesting here, but the
> ingredients are high quality and fresh and it is good, if not genius.
> --http://www.judithgreenwood.com

Also Judith - can I pick your brains. I had a soup a while back.
Definitely italian-named, but quite "chunky" and not watery that
contained white beans, spinach, carrots and tomatoes. I can't for the
life of me remember the name of the soup, but all I can remember is
that it had a longish (single word) name - maybe 8-10 letters. Does
anything spring to mind?! Sorry I can't be more specific.

Cheers
Richard

"Richard Dixon" <rdngemail> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:5087
On 21 Jan, 22:22, "Giusi" <decobabe> wrote:

> I recommend you towww.slowtrav.com, where you'll find that area extremely
> well covered for reviews. Not that far from Montalcino is Trequanda, where
> I remember liking very much a restaurant called Duca di something. I'll
> look it up. For me Tuscan food isn't the most interesting here, but the
> ingredients are high quality and fresh and it is good, if not genius.

Also Judith - can I pick your brains. I had a soup a while back.
Definitely italian-named, but quite "chunky" and not watery that
contained white beans, spinach, carrots and tomatoes. I can't for the
life of me remember the name of the soup, but all I can remember is
that it had a longish (single word) name - maybe 8-10 letters. Does
anything spring to mind?! Sorry I can't be more specific.

Could be a local name or a made-up name, but basically any vegetable soup
with beans in it is a minestrone, which just means "big soup." There is
also ribollita in Tuscany, which has bread in it, although you normally
can't see it.--
http://www.judithgreenwood.com

On 22 Jan, 10:50, "Giusi" <decobabe> wrote:

> Could be a local name or a made-up name, but basically any vegetable soup
> with beans in it is a minestrone, which just means "big soup."  There is
> also ribollita in Tuscany, which has bread in it, although you normally
> can't see it.--http://www.judithgreenwood.com

Ribollita ! Thank you!

Richard

In message <Xns9A2CE23392D0Drdngemailyahoocouk>, Richard
Dixon <rdngemail> writes
[..]
>went to last month.
>
>Had a look around all the fresh meats and cheese (and had a lovely panini
>with basil, bocconcino (the baby mozzarella balls) and sundried tomatoes as
>I left. A real find ! It's called "Gennaro". In fact someone has written
>about it in their blog with some nice pictures:
>
>[..]
>
>Richard
I wonder if it's anything to do with the Italian chef raved about by
Jamie Oliver? The one who wrote 'Passione'?

Following up to June Hughes <junehughes> wrote:

>I wonder if it's anything to do with the Italian chef raved about by
>Jamie Oliver? The one who wrote 'Passione'?

gennaro contaldo

On 22 Jan, 12:35, Mike....... <mikebcloth>
wrote:
> Following up to  June Hughes <junehug> wrote:
>
> >I wonder if it's anything to do with the Italian chef raved about by
> >Jamie Oliver?  The one who wrote 'Passione'?
>
> gennaro contaldo

I'll have to check. A quick google doesn't suggest any links. I keep
meaning to try out Passione but then notice the prices...!!

Richard

Following up to Richard Dixon <rdngemail> wrote:

>> gennaro contaldo
>
>I'll have to check. A quick google doesn't suggest any links. I keep
>meaning to try out Passione but then notice the prices...!!

Well, he has a restro called, wait for it "passione" in firzrovia.
Before that he worked with Carluccio, collecting wild mushrooms IIRC
for his shop in Covent Garden.

On 22 Jan, 13:00, Mike....... <mikebcloth>
wrote:
> Following up to  Richard Dixon <rdngem> wrote:
>
> >> gennaro contaldo
>
> >I'll have to check. A quick google doesn't suggest any links. I keep
> >meaning to try out Passione but then notice the prices...!!
>
> Well, he has a restro called, wait for it "passione" in firzrovia.

Crossed wires there - hence my noting Passione above !!

> Before that he worked with Carluccio, collecting wild mushrooms IIRC
> for his shop in Covent Garden.

Didn't he allegedly teach Carluccio a lot of what he knew?!

Richard

Following up to Richard Dixon <rdngemail> wrote:

>> Before that he worked with Carluccio, collecting wild mushrooms IIRC
>> for his shop in Covent Garden.
>
>Didn't he allegedly teach Carluccio a lot of what he knew?!

I dont know, the rumour sounds familiar.

In message <d3qbp3p2e8qqnhr84eirit4bkud9njd0j6>, Mike.......
<mikebclothing> writes
>Following up to Richard Dixon <rdngemail> wrote:
>
>>> gennaro contaldo
>>
>>I'll have to check. A quick google doesn't suggest any links. I keep
>>meaning to try out Passione but then notice the prices...!!
>
>Well, he has a restro called, wait for it "passione" in firzrovia.
>Before that he worked with Carluccio, collecting wild mushrooms IIRC
>for his shop in Covent Garden.
His book is called that too.

On 22 Jan, 13:12, June Hughes <junehug> wrote:

> >Well, he has a restro called, wait for it "passione" in firzrovia.
> >Before that he worked with Carluccio, collecting wild mushrooms IIRC
> >for his shop in Covent Garden.
>
> His book is called that too.

He also has Gennaro's Cookery Year or words to that effect - bought it
when the book people came round here to work for a fiver !

Richard

On 22 Jan, 13:12, June Hughes <junehug> wrote:

> >Well, he has a restro called, wait for it "passione" in firzrovia.
> >Before that he worked with Carluccio, collecting wild mushrooms IIRC
> >for his shop in Covent Garden.
>
> His book is called that too.

Here is that Gennaro deli in Lewisham in all its glory before Xmas
when Pannetone are hung from the ceiling, apparently !

http://aminus3.s3.amazonaws.com/imag...bd49_large.jpg

Richard