2021 Olio di Penne (back in stock!) and the myth surrounding cooking with olive oil
We're busy preparing the land for this year's olive harvest that will start in a less than a week! It's been such a pleasure to see the...
Stephen Hughes
Oct 7, 2021
Olive harvest, white truffles and trapadare
Another year goes by and another olive harvest completed. I couldn’t now imagine life without the cycle of looking after the trees and...
stephendhughes
Nov 24, 2018
Building an Italian Pizza Oven
I have done it at last. After years of yearning I have finally taken the plunge and built a pizza oven. And what a pizza oven it is!
stephendhughes
Aug 27, 2018
Giro d'Italia comes to Penne
The 101st Giro D’Italia arrived in Penne on Sunday the 13th May to host the start of stage 10 of a race that covers 3500 kilometres with...
stephendhughes
May 16, 2018
How to Make Perfect Fresh Pasta
There seems to be a strange reverence around making fresh pasta…few seem to attempt it, and most of those who do view the process as a...
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Apr 25, 2018
Shepherd’s Delight
I was standing in a group of men, a dozen or so, watching, in an off-hand way, a pot of mutton stew cooking. It was a massive pot, 11...
stephendhughes
Apr 24, 2018
Emigration from the Abruzzo
Abruzzo emigration and how people are now tracing their roots.
stephendhughes
Apr 15, 2018
Finding white truffles...
I was enjoying a coffee in a local bar when Nino (not his real name) approached me; in a hushed tone, careful that we would not be...
stephendhughes
Jan 1, 2018
Olio di Penne harvest 2017
The olive harvest has just finished. Not a good harvest, as the yield was too low, but the quality is excellent and prices have risen to...
stephendhughes
Nov 18, 2017
Gnarled Tomatoes
In Italy it is time to celebrate the tomato harvest, and what tomatoes they are: gnarled and misshapen they may be, but a joy to eat! Why...
stephendhughes
Oct 15, 2017
Italy's Best Beers
Chianti, Prosecco, Brunello – Italy has always been synonymous with world-famous wine, but craft beer? Sure…a Moretti is acceptable on a...
stephendhughes
Aug 15, 2017
Vineyard Tours & Tastings
Excellent vineyard tours and tastings of some of the Abruzzo's best producers of wine. Read on for details...
stephendhughes
Jul 2, 2017
Crespelle in Brodo - Pancakes in Broth
Crespelle in brodo and pecora alla callara. Perfect little pancakes served in an unusual way... I am out in Italy, mainly to put down...
stephendhughes
Apr 15, 2017
Abruzzo wine: affordable and exceptional
Marion and I were out for a quiet dinner together last week. We went to one of our favourite places in Bristol to try out a new...
stephendhughes
Mar 29, 2017
Polenta on the table - simple and delicious party food...
Polenta was once a staple throughout Italy until it was replaced by pasta in the early 20th century. This hearty-carb was the mainstay of...
stephendhughes
Feb 20, 2017