I❤️ Markets: Chianti
La notte delle stelle cadente.
There are dates on my Tuscan calendar which guide me through the year. August 10th, the feast day of San Lorenzo, patron Saint of Florence’s mercato and the church in the Quartiere of San Lorenzo is like my own personal patron Saint.
I had my cooking school located right infront of the market from 1988 until 2009. Today the vendors from the market offer pasta with ragu and watermelon to everyone outside the church of San Lorenzo. It’s a giant neighborhood party!
The image below is taken from the facade of the church, which was the first church in Florence which also has been left as it was, and not finished in a marble facade.
Tonight they say is the night of the falling stars. August 10th to the 12th is the best time to catch the lovely meteor showers in the late summer sky.
What does San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence) have to do with the Perseids? And why do we need to make a wish?
The celestial event, first observed in 36 ad, falls right near the date when we celebrate the martyrdom of S.t Lawrence, burned alive on a blazing gridiron on the 10th of August 258 a.d.
Due to this coincidence, the shooting stars that occur on the night of San Lorenzo are said to represent the tears shed by the Saint during his torture, they drift eternally in heaven only to descend on Earth the 10th of August. Hence the popular belief that for all those who remember the pain of the Saint, by watching his “tears” they will see their wish come true.From https://www.vimark.com/en/san-lorenzo-the-night-of-the-shooting-stars/
As summer breaks, days of clouded skies, cooler mornings, we can breathe and get back into the kitchen as well. That brings me joy. My “kitchen vacation food” are my little plates of flavors from past trips, places I loved and am sharing with my husband.
A little Mexico, a little Greece, some dishes from Israel or France. Places that all leave wonderful memories in the form of flavors.
I turn on my oven and put pots on to boil and walk out of the kitchen and catch up on reading or a movie. Within an hour, I have roasted bell peppers, roasted eggplant, cooked fresh borlotti beans and some string beans and chickpeas.
I tend to batch cook and then enjoy the creative part of what they become and where it takes my tastebuds. As an expat living in Italy, I have a pantry which helps me travel.
Cumin, smoked paprika and various chiles. Fresh ginger, rice wine vinegar and soy sauce. Even different regions of Italy might need additions to my pantry for the regional specialites or perhaps a special kitchen tool.
A yearly dilemma living in Italy is when everything shuts down for the holidays. The entire country used to go on holiday in August, emptying the cities and filling the vacation destinations both at the sea and the mountains.
But that means planning ahead. Grocery stores stay open. The small family owned trattorias tend to all close for the month.
Others, like my grocery store, just close for a day or two.
The reality of living in Italy is learning to adapt. Be prepared. Planning
Every year there is something that needs to be fixed or you need have some test for the Dr and everything is closed on goes in slow motion.
Of course, our sink needed to be fixed, another reason for not cooking during the horrible heatwave, but we FINALLY got the plumber here and it took him two trips but we are finally all set. Then the hot water heater started acting up? Never ending small things to deal with.
My exams I need for my Dr follow up visit in September have a 6 month waiting period if I did them through the government socialized medicine system, but I can pay and get them done and the results back the same day if I pay. All drs have to do their free service but can also run their normal business as well.
THANK GOD. And the price is not crazy.
My personal joy in August is that it means September is on it’s way. September is one of my favorite months. Perhaps as it was when school starts and was always fun seeing friends again. I enjoy new beginnings. It’s like the start of a new year, a new season and always full of new energy for me.
Do you have a time of year that is special for you? When you feel more energy? Get inspired more?
If you are cooking, here is an idea for a wonderful twist on a classic caprese salad.
Tomatoes now are perfect.
Mozzarella really needs nothing.
I added grilled eggplant which make me think of a summer Eggplant Parmigiana.
Perfect if you are a vegetarian or not. We tend to eat mostly vegetables and meat not so often, but when we do it’s the best quality .
Enjoy the rest of summer. Celebrate those vegetables.
For my paid subscribers this month I am sharing my Market Guide to Chianti.
Join us for the free guide and a special gift for San Lorenzo, a downloadable image for your kitchen.
