MAG TRAVEL

Roman Day trip: Sabina

MAG Travel — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 10:44:30 +0000

Sabina. Just 30 minutes from Rome, Sabina is an ideal region to discover the culture, history, and the flavors of the Lazio region. An ideal retreat center,

The Tartaruga Sabina offers more than a simple vacation; it offers a sensual experience: simple, wholesome living, a refreshing swimming pool, relaxation in the sauna, the scents and colors of the Sabina countryside, and oneness with nature. All nestled in this magical landscape is a villa of rare beauty. For those who love tranquillity, art, nature, and design, the Tartaruga Sabina will provide an unforgettable vacation or event experience unlike any other.

Eggplant’s Rich History

MAG Travel — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:34:57 +0000

Certain vegetables have a majestic quality to them that requires you to address them with a level of respect. I feel that way about eggplant, and I’m fascinated not only with dishes made with it but with when and how it came to us. Several varieties of eggplant are now available at the market, including the familiar purple oval one and the purple globe eggplant, which is called Tunisian eggplant in Sicily. There are long and thin purple, lavender and white eggplant called Japanese or Chinese eggplant. There are white eggplants that look like large eggs and there is a round, ribbed eggplant called the Italian Rosa Bianco. There are little Thai eggplants the size of marbles. The edible part of the eggplant (Solanum melongena) is the cooked ripe fruit.

Although most botanists believe southeastern India is the place of origin of the eggplant — and some botanists make a case for China, as well as the Malay Peninsula — the place of origin is still unknown. We do know that Arab agriculturists brought eggplant to the Mediterranean from Persia and perhaps from the Arabian Peninsula in the ninth or 10th centuries. The Arabs seem to have discovered the eggplant already growing in Persia shortly after their conquest of that country in 642, although several ancient Arabic names for the eggplant appear to come directly from other Indian names, indicating that the plant may have arrived in the Arabian Peninsula in pre-Islamic times.

A hundred ways to prepare eggplant

The Arabs have long been fond of eggplant, and medieval Arabic cookery manuscripts always have lots of recipes. There is a saying in some parts of the Arab world that a girl should know a hundred ways to prepare eggplant. The eggplant was treated with suspicion at first. The medieval Arab toxicologist Ibn Wahshiya (circa 904) said it was fatal when eaten raw. He was mistaken, but his advice was taken to heart in medieval Europe for centuries.

The earliest reference to eggplant in Europe is from a description in the “Calendar of Cordoba” written in 961 in Islamic Spain where we are told that it is planted in March. There are numerous recipes for eggplant from 13th-century Spain. This is notable because eggplant was a relatively new vegetable to Europe, and this is an early date for its being common. Sicily was one of the first places in Europe where eggplant grew after its introduction by Arab farmers. The first clear reference to the eggplant in Sicily is from 1309, where they are called melingianas and are grown in a garden along with cucumbers and a kind of gourd. Although eggplant was once called “mad apple” (mala insana) because it was thought to produce insanity, this expression is not the etymological root of the Italian and Sicilian words for eggplant, melanzane and mulinciana, respectively. The Italian and Sicilian words derive from the Arabic word for the plant, badhinjan.

Picking the perfect eggplant

When buying eggplant, look for vegetables that are uniformly smooth and colored, without bruises. Squeeze the eggplant gently with a finger and then let go: The eggplant will reform smoothly again if it is fresh. The eggplant should feel heavy. Store eggplant in the refrigerator on a middle shelf, not in the crisper drawer. Many recipes call for salting the slices of eggplant before cooking to leech it of bitter juices. Modern eggplant cultivation has removed its bitterness so it’s not absolutely necessary to do this. On the other hand, I salt eggplant out of habit.

Fittingly, one of the simplest, and intriguing, recipes for eggplant comes from Sicily. It’s called Quaglie di Melanzane, meaning quails made of eggplant. It’s a dish from Palermo where small oval eggplants are sliced while still attached to their stem bases before they are deep-fried. The eggplants are then “fanned” a bit and arranged on a plate to look like quail. In Sicily, they are usually served as a first course or as part of a tavola calda (large tables in Sicilian restaurants filled with various antipasti and other foods) in Sicily

Quaglie di Melanzane

Serves 8

Ingredients

6 to 8 cups olive oil for frying

10 small round or oval eggplant (about 1½ pounds)

Directions

1. Preheat the frying oil in a deep-fryer or an 8-inch saucepan fitted with a basket insert to 375 F.

2. Starting from the base, slice the eggplant in four or five places all the way through keeping the slices attached to the base. Deep-fry, pushing them around in the hot oil, until golden brown, about eight minutes. Remove and drain.

3. When cool enough to handle, arrange the eggplant on a platter and fan the cut end slightly. Season with salt and parsley and serve.

Rolling Stones drink Mint tea

MAG Travel — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:11:41 +0000

The Rolling Stones love Morocco and always stay at hidden Kasbahs in the Northern Regions. Mick has been sighted each time sipping piping hot mint tea and a ciggie during pauses.

Mint tea isn’t just a drink in Morocco. It is a sign of hospitality and friendship and tradition. Because this drink is so popular, it is served all day long, after every meal and with every conversation. Moroccans take great pride in their tea and will often ask a visitor who among their group of friends makes the best cup of mint tea. It’s a favorite among every Moroccan, old or young, even out at bars in the coolest 5-star hotels or in the country kiosk, because of its smooth and sweet taste. It’s made the old-fashioned way with loose tea and fresh mint. Here’s how to make the best brew, according to Mick:

10 leaves fresh mint

4 cups of water

3 teaspoons green tea

3 tablespoons sugar

Boil the water and pour it into a teapot.

Add the mint, green tea and sugar.

Let it steep for three to five minutes.

Pour one glass of tea. Pour it back into the teapot. Do this three or more times. This helps dissolve the sugar.

Pour the tea from a high distance so you get a thin layer of foam on the top. If there isn’t, repeat step 5. This is icing on the cake folks!

Manduria- Puglia’s Ionic gemstone

MAG Travel — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:16:56 +0000

A well out of which an almond tree appears. This centuries old construction, in the heart of the town’s historic center, has become the symbol of Manduria, ancient town situated on Puglia’s Ionic coast.

The “Fonte Pliniano” testifies to both the presence of the messapic population who inhabited southern Puglia from the 8th century B.C. onwards, and the visit to the town by “Plinio the Old”: the famous Roman historian who mentioned the well in his “Historia naturalis” and after whom the structure was subsequently named.

Another symbol of this old Puglian town is the Primitivo di Manduria: the much appraised red wine produced here. A masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, the town’s Cathedral features an immense entrance door to each side of which there is a statue of a lion, originating from the medieval church which previously occupied the site.

The Cathedral is by no means the only house of worship in Manduria, a town considered sacred for the surprising quantity of churches, convents and religious orders to be found within the walls of its historic center.

In the Ghetto of Manduria there are the signs of the thriving Jewish community which once lived here. Then there is the stunning Palazzo Imperiali overlooking Piazza Garibaldi: the one and only example of Puglian Baroque architecture in the town.

Beat the Heat

MAG Travel — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:41:51 +0000

When the heat rises in City, where do you go? In Rome, I run away from my non-airconditioned apartment and try to find cool breezes wafting through Rome’s public parks. Villa Borghese is the best, and largest, with a small lake located in the middle. From the Flaminio Metro, walk North through the arches (with the Eagles on them) straight ahead and follow the cool air! In the evenings free theatre and concerts and even outdoor cinema bring Romani and travelers together, to enjoy the relief from the scorching heat and humidity. Make sure to bring your bug spray….it’s a jungle out there!

Simplicity in the city

MAG Travel — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:39:44 +0000

Why is it so hard to be simple these days? Everywhere I go I see people stressing and worrying, suffering in their faces, and yet, they have it better than a lot of other people, and countries for that matter. Sometimes I too get into the rat-race, don’t get my wrong, but the orto puts it all into a different light. A farmer spends everyday preparing for the next; cultivating, tending, tilling, planning, chopping, cleaning, watering. Once the harvest is done, as we are doing this month, we are already planning next season’s crop. Often, farmers seem so stoic and wise to me, their eye wrinkles and hands tell so many stories, like Dorothea Lange’s photographs and although they are made of the salt of the earth, and are more action than words, they have taught me some of the most important lessons. “No matter what you do, or how hard you work, you still cannot control how the rain falls.”

Hungarians blessing bread

MAG Travel — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:49:37 +0000

20th August is St. Stephen’s Day in Hungary and is also my Dad’s birthday. He is half Hungarian, so I’m a quarter. We joke about being Hungarian and about beefy women eating paprika and sour cream.I even went on a pilgrimage in 2006 to find out ancestors. It turned out that 1/4 of the phone book has our last name. Strangely enough, my main bread & butter this year is from a Hungarian client, so I’ve had a chance to get to know the ins and outs of Hungarian culture, food and modern Budapest. As today is their public holiday, I’d like to point out that it is today that they celebrate the foundation of the Hungarian state 1000 years ago. The new bread is blessed on this day too.

So, to Dad and the Hungarian State- cheers! And God Bless thy keyner (bread) !

What’s on in Rome this summer

MAG Travel — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:30:31 +0000

Late Summer Edition

All’ombra del colosseo
One of the nicest of the temporary areas set up for the Estate Romana summer festival, “Al Ombra del Colosso” features a 1,500 square meter village, seating 2000 for cabaret and concerts. During the day, there’s a 200-square meter pool and jacuzzi; a disco, with an “apperitivo pool party” at 5 pm; a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and apperitivi; a revolving Texas Hold ‘em Poker game; and cabaret shows nightly at 9:45 pm. Parco del Celio, Viale del Parco del Celio at Via Celio Vibenna. Pool open, 9 am – 6 pm; Monday-Friday €14 full day, €10 half day, reduced €7. Saturday-Sunday €18, reduced €9, half day €14. Cabaret tickets sold separately. www.allombradelcolosseo.it

Vintage Roma
Pitching its tents at the San Sebastiano park (via di Porta San Sebastiano near the Baths of Caracalla), the event is an homage to the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, featuring theater, music, the ubiquitous booths and food stands, plus screenings of vintage films, a “Vintage Shop,” disco and bar. Open through August 15. www.romavintage.it

Gay Village Festival
The ninth edition of this summer celebration of gay culture, with concerts, dancing, Parco del Ninfeo, Via delle Tre Fontane at via dell’Agricoltura (Eur) Open Thursday-Saturday, with happy hour from 8-9:30 pm, followed by shows, films, djs. Entrance fee aftr 9:30 pm: Thursday €8, Friday€13, Saturday, €16, includes drink. Schedule of events (in Italian) www.gayvillage.it

Fontanone dell’Acqua Paola
With a spectacular panoramic view of Rome below and the immense fountain of Acqua Paola as a backdrop, a summer venue offering a literary cafe open from 7 pm, and nightly shows at 9 pm (€20 – €5) Via Garibaldi near the top of the Janiculum hill. Continuing through September 12. program

Party Along the Tiber
The festival of tents that lines the Tiber each summer opens this weekend, with more than 60 stands selling trinkets of all sorts, from soaps to sandals; 15 bars and restaurants, offering all kinds of eats and drinks, from gelato to gin: two dance floors offering tango lessons; and two stages offering live music and theater. The Fonclea club will move to the river side for the summer months, with a schedule of blues performances starting Sunday, June 13, 10 pm. Banks of the Tiber, Trastevere, from Ponte Sisto to Ponte Palatino. more
Upriver, at Ponte Milvio, a smaller party is in full swing every night, with bars, restaurnts, music and stalls.

In the Museums
Jean-Auguste-Dominque Ingres / Ellsworth Kelly at the Villa Medici
aims to identify links between the two artists.Two Visions of the Urban Landscape of Rome, the work of photographer Joel Sternfeld is at MACRO Future – Ex Mattatoio. La forma del Rinascimento, a survey of Renaissance sculpture in Rome (including works by Donatello and Michelangelo), is at the Palazzo Venezia. Landscapes and portraits by contemporary artist Tullio Pericoli are on view at the Museo Ara Pacis. An icon among 20th century artists, Philip Guston is given a retrospective exhibition at the Museo Carlo Bilotti. A survey of works by portraitist and illustrator Pio Pullini (1887-1955) is at the Museo di Roma-Palazzo Braschi.
Complete museum and gallery listings.

Ferragosto in Siena

MAG Travel — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:03:59 +0000

Ferragosto, August 15th, is THE holiday in Italy. Even though most people consider it just an excuse to go to the beach, Ferragosto is in fact a religious holiday. The Catholic Church commemorates the “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary“, that is the real physical elevation of her body into Heaven.

Ferragosto, though, has much more ancient origins. As in the case of most of the other big religious holidays, the Roman Church has replaced ancient pagan holidays with a Catholic “Holy Day of Obligation”, that is a day that commemorates some important dogma or religious event.

Ferragosto marks the end of the hardest time of the year as far as work in the fields goes, after the crops have been harvested and the land has been ploughed again. The Romans celebrated the Goddess Diana and the cycle of fertility and ripening throughout the month of August. The name of the holiday itself is reminiscent of the Latin name for these celebrations, that is Feriae Augusti, which means “Emperor Augustus’ vacation days”. But even before then, the Romans used to celebrate Consualia to honour the Consus, God of the harvests.

The Romans used to celebrate these August holidays with horse races, a tradition that’s still kept alive by the many festivals organized throughout the country. In Tuscany, for instance, the second Palio of Siena takes place on the 16th.

For more information on Ferragosto, check out this link for books and films on the holiday.

First Class

MAG Travel — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:34:50 +0000

Michelle

I knew you would find what we need and like. You were truly the best in every detail on our honeymoon. We can’t thank you enough! The limoncello is safe in the freezer. :)