My Kind of Food

Living, as I do, in Italy, I’m surrounded by good food.  By this I mean good ingredients of course as well as good cooking.  Things are apparently more seasonal in Italy than in the UK.  In September and October we witness the arrival of the king of mushrooms the Porcini (ceps) whilst other ‘kings of food’ are year-round favourites such as Parmigiano Reggiano (cheese) or the vast array of salumi (cured meats) that derive from the sacred pig.  Fresh fruit and vegetables compliment the plentiful supply of succulent meat, fish and seafood and it’s all very good – well most of it is.  I can’t abide Polenta!

I could no more write with excitement about Polenta (that ghastly slop made from ground maize) than I could bring myself to eat it.  What I like therefore is a matter of personal taste and while there isn’t much I don’t or won’t eat; there are things which I prefer over others.

Eating out is generally cheaper in Italy than in the UK both at higher end restaurants and especially in good local restaurants.  Above all, when eating out, I want good food that represents value for money.  I don’t want to eat bad food at a cheap restaurant and I certainly don’t want to eat bad food at an expensive restaurant.  My expectation is that a 3star Michelin Restaurant should offer a level of creativity and skill that is worth paying for but I also expect McDonalds to offer consistency, quality and good service.  There are two McDonald’s nearby.  One is good the other is poor.  That’s as unacceptable to me than being served overcooked Turbot at a top restaurant in Milan..

This blog will be opinionated and not at all impartial.  I don’t pretend to be a culinary expert but I do know what I like and friends have encouraged me to share my experiences with you.  These are my views and while readers are free to hold different views they  should understand where I’m coming from. I intend to share thoughts about food, the producers the retailers and the restaurants.

Professional food critics would probably add here that they don’t accept free meals so as to be free to criticise without compromise.  I say that any free meals I might be offered  would be gratefully received and will be reviewed like all others – honestly and according to my own tastes!