100 lines to be handed in at school tomorrow;
“I must stop selling out of Anarkos.”
“I must stop selling out of Anarkos”……………..
Well, it’s back in again and as tasty as ever. Remember what the Wine Journos have said?
The Daily Telegraph: “another one of Mark Hughes’ brilliant finds. Absolutely delicious blend of Primitivo, Negro Amaro and Malvasia. Lush and plush like velvet, also juicy, scented, intense, rich brimming with the smell of violets, deep purple plums and bitter cherries. Such a joy!
Oz Clarke as one of his 250 best wines: “an excellent example of how southern Italian reds are starting to express their own fabulous originality. It’s bulging with youth and it’s soft, yet tempered by a nice edgy bitterness.”
So now’s the time to think Italy, folks. Did you know;
Italy has the most number of lifts per square kilometre.
Italy has the lowest birth rate in Europe and the average Italian drinks 60 litres of wine per year…any connection?
In the 13th Century Salvino D’Armate invented the first wearable spectacles.
The Italian enclave San Marino was officially founded in 301 AD, making it the oldest Republic in the world. Elements of the 301 AD constitution are still in use today.
Cencio la Parolaccia is a restaurant in the Rione Trastevere of Rome. It is mostly famous for the behaviour of its waiters, who curse at or otherwise verbally abuse the diners. Such fun!
The oldest European university in continuous operation is the University of Bologna, founded in 1088.
In 1454, a real human chess game took place in Marostica, Italy, in place of a duel. The winner of the chess game won the hand of a beautiful girl.
Anarkos is back in, as is the Villa Cialdini Red Fizz which also had rave reviews before we also sold out just before Christmas! (“I must stop selling out of Villa Cialdini.”, “I must stop selling out of Villa Cialdini.”………..) Daily Telegraph Star Buy last Christmas. Pick of the Summer Reds 2013 -Sunday Times
A new wine on the same shipment is an absolutely delicious Sangiovese di Romagna which oozes rich, violet-scented fruit softened-out and enhanced by a gentle passage through oak barrels.
Big, beefy Fellone returns, too. “I must stop selling out of Fellone”, “I must stop selling out of Fellone”……………..
Pietraluna Negro Amaro , Casa Roma Pinot Grigio, Prosecco and Pinot Rosa Frizzante managed not to sell out so that completes the Italian range. Mix your own, or quick link to two pre-selected mixed cases;
- Taste of Italy Case – 12 bottles, eight different wines. Click Here
- Big Italian Reds case – 3 bottles each of four robust reds. Click Here
And what to cook as an accompaniment?
Penne with Tomato and Anchovy Sauce is a pasta dish to die for!
Do try this recipe I first had in Sicily where the main ingredient of salted anchovies is easy to get hold of. Over here you can get them at selected Sainsburys otherwise you might need to go to a specialist Italian Deli.
Do not use tinned anchovies in oil as a substitute, it does not work.
Serves 4 good helpings (enough to accompany one bottle of Anarkos).
2 tbsp olive oil
50g butter
2 cloves garlic
12 salted anchovies (ie 24 fillets) salt washed off and dried
2 tbsp freshly chopped rosemary
2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
150ml double cream
150g freshly grated parmesan cheese
500g penne (or to be honest, any pasta you fancy)
Salt to season
What to do;
In a large pan gently fry the chopped garlic in the oil and butter until soft.
Gently mash in the anchovies and rosemary until it’s like a paste, less than a minute.
Stir in the tomatoes, bring to boil and simmer until enough liquid has evaporated to become a sauce, 30 -40 minutes?
Add the cream, bring to the boil again, add half the parmesan. All done.
Stir the cooked pasta into the sauce, serve in deep pasta bowls with the rest of the parmesan sprinkled on top.
