People regularly ask me for recommendations: from which culinary classics to have on their bookshelves, to which ingredients to keep in their cupboards, or what utensils are best for certain techniques. So, as a Pasta Grannies team, we thought it was about time to share a few of our favourite things. Each week, on the Pasta Grannies blog, we’ll share a few key items we’re loving.
Our focus may be pasta, but it’s often accompanied by a glass of wine — and we all have our very different opinions.
Andrea likes huge reds from Sicily, Livia loves a bargain in a box, Michelangelo is more of a beer guy, and I like Vermentino from Sardinia or Verdicchio from Marche. Dinner can be complicated.
STOCK
Items we regularly have on shelves in our pantry
Michaella is a regular visitor to her family’s village in Tuscany. This summer she discovered this Frescobaldi wine which she reckons is sunshine in a bottle – and a great way of extending that summer feeling.
She detects frangipane and quince flavours — let us know if you agree.
MAKE
The best kitchen gadgets and gizmos to make a family-style spread.
If you would like to make your own wine, drop us a line and we’ll try and talk you out of it; it’s a vocation for the romantic and foolhardy.
Our advice? Buy the best quality wine you can afford, then don’t let it go to waste by using this Corovin wine preserver. It’s expensive, but a vineyard is more so.
ENJOY
Other things we’ve been enjoying inside or outside of the kitchen.
One of my favourite places to drink wine in London is at the lovely Luca Dusi’s wine shop Passionne Vino. Luca is a larger-than-life, legendary wine trader from Verona, adored by everyone who crosses his path. If you’re ever in London, it’s worth a visit to the Shoreditch bar to sample some of his gorgeous natural wines. There’s no menu — only his team’s recommendation. He also imports and distributes excellent Italian wines.
I first met Luca when we recorded his mamma for the channel in the early days of the channel, and he’s also been in my kitchen for a podcast recording where we made Osanna’s Bigoli con Salsa. He has big opinions on everything – it’s worth a watch or a listen.
Please note that all these items are real recommendations chosen at our own discretion, and not a result of paid placement. Sometimes, however, we may include affiliate links)
