I've never made a secret of the fact that I'm a bit of a foodie.
TV chefs come and go. Some are screaming hyperactive loonies, some are busty sex Goddesses and some you really wouldn't want to fry an egg for you.
These two above are not really 'TV chefs'; they are more 'food enthusiasts', and their recent re-run of 'Two Hungry Italians' on the UK's BBC 2 (unfortunately at a silly time in the afternoon), was an absolute delight. Later series were called 'Two Greedy Italians', and 'Still Hungry'.
Gennaro Contaldo (left) and Antonio Carluccio (right) are Italians who have decided to make England their home, but their enthusiasm for everything Italian (especially food) remains infectious.
The recent programmes followed them around the Italy of their childhoods, as they remembered times past through places and plates. They cooked simple country dishes, chatted with simple country folk, and reminisced (often with tears in their eyes) about all that they'd left behind.
They are both extremely likeable characters, and their love for their homeland (and each other) is touching. If their programme turns up where you live, or you should find a DVD, I recommend them wholeheartedly.
One thing did come across from their programmes, however; that you definitely get much better Italian cuisine in London or New York than you do in Italy. Rather like Indian, Chinese, and probably even French.
Watched the Greedy series and loved it. Will have to look out for the other programmes.
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely look out for the programmes - love my food.
ReplyDeleteI love these guys too. Try their orzotto - risotto made with pearl barley - and pork mince. It's fab. If pearl barley isn't on the shelves at Super U get a passing Brit to bring some over from Blighty.
ReplyDeleteI buy pearl barley at my local health-food store (here in France), but usually only put it into winter lamb stews.
DeleteI have never seen any of these programmes but they sound delightful will keep an eye out.
ReplyDeleteMmmmmm...yum. Love Italian food. Now I need to find ways of converting the traditional into the vegan. I'm currently excited about shifting to a plant-based diet and how I can tweak old recipes to fit this new method. See my blog for my latest discoveries.
ReplyDeleteI'm fairly sure that those two were the ones I once watched sampling a cheese from northern Italy - a cheese that isn't ripe until it actually moves of its own volition. They scopped up the runny cheese on bread crusts, straight from the round and complete with wriggling maggots. Apparently the maggots taste of cheese anyway and are part of the treat. No idea what the cheese is called.
ReplyDeleteProbably "Barf" or "Chunder".
Carluccio opened a new restaurant in Bath a couple of months ago and turned up himself for the grand opening (probably the first and last time). He spent most of his time sitting outside in the courtyard, because he chain-smokes cigarettes, and there was a hog-roast going out there as well!
ReplyDeletewe loved them...such a pair together!!
ReplyDeleteAnd now I'm hungry...
ReplyDelete