Pepper Rolls With Robiola and Smoked Paprika and The City of Turin

The redness of these peppers mixed with the colors of the chives and the robiola remind me of the Italian flag.  Red, white and green are actually my favorite colors to put together in a dish.  They depict freshness of the ingredients and they have the power to convince you to take a bite.  Just like these pepper rolls.  It's a very easy recipe that I would like to share with you.  The only thing that takes time is grilling the peppers but if you use the pre-cooked bottled ones, then it's really easy like ABC.  Go straight to the end if you want to go straight to the recipe and if you are curious about Turin, you can scroll down and see the city through my lens today.

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Sautéed Mussels and Clams (Sauté di Cozze e Vongole) and an Upcoming Tour of Piedmont and Liguria

I just closed my suitcase and triple-checked the list of things that I should take with me.  Almost everything's packed.  I never really mentioned until now that I was invited to go to Piemonte (Piedmont) and Liguria at the northwest part of Italy for an Enogastronomic Press Tour sponsored by Borsa Internazionale del Turismo Enogastronomico (BITEG).  It's a tour organized by the Piedmont Tourism to experience and to get to know some chosen towns that represent both regions well.  In Liguria, the cultural and culinary specialties of the Savona coast will be explored like their chinotto (myrtle-leaved orange tree), extra virgin olive oil and pesto. In Piedmont, we will get to know the three important food and wine products that the region proudly stands for:  Barolo wines, truffles and hazelnuts.  

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Amaretti Pancakes With Peaches and Reduced Amaretto Syrup

Here I am with a breakfast recipe experiment gone yummy.  Pancakes are lovely to manipulate with different flavors and blends and when I am bored with my first meal of the day, I tend to browse my cupboards and fridge to look for interesting combinations to put together.  Remember the Banana Pistachio Pancakes With Marsala Syrup, the Hazelnut Pancakes with Roasted Figs & Reduced Marsala Sauce, the Dark Chocolate Pancake & Banana Towers or the Almond Blueberry Pancakes With Godet Chocolate Ganache? There are also other combinations that you might want to check out at my recipe index (under breakfast).  

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Tartiflette: French Potato, Onion & Cheese Gratin

It was in Chamonix, France where I had my first tartiflette. It was in the middle of summer and the town was full of tourists.  Yes, I noticed the beauty of Mont Blanc but when you are walking in the middle of a big crowded town with a large dog taking you for a walk and lunch time is ticking away fast, the only thought I had at that moment was where to eat.  After our futile search for a place to sit down & eat, my husband and I eventually gave up and moved away from the town.  There, just about a kilometer or 2 away, we found the perfect open-air spot.  Our dog found his spot too under the shade of a tree while I ordered my very first tartiflette, the specialty of the region.  

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Parchment Baked Red Mullet Fish With Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Asparagus

After fruit & vegetable markets, I love fish markets next.  I love immersing myself to the different kinds of sea creatures, some with vibrant colors and interesting forms.  This goes especially to the tropical fish and shellfish markets.  They all exude freshness just like the fruits and vegetables.  And, they are healthy food. 

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