WEEKEND SHOPPING
THE SUN CAME OUT IN LIGURIA THIS WEEKEND AFTER A WEEK OF RAIN AND WIND
WE HEADED OUT INTO THE FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE FOR SOME SHOPPING IN SARZANA
THE VEGETABLE STALLS WERE OVERFLOWING WITH DELICIOUS FRESH PRODUCE
THE FRESHEST BEANS AND GREENS, RIPE TOMATOES, PEPPERS AND APPLES
ZUCCHINI WITH THE FLOWERS ‘FIORI DI ZUCCA’ STILL ON THEM
FUNGHI DELLA QUERCIA - OR OAK MUSHROOMS (BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY GROW). SIMILAR TO SHITAKE MUSHROOMS
FRESH CHESTNUTS, A STAPLE FOOD OF LIGURIA AND ONE OF THE INGREDIENTS OF LARIA
INGREDIENTS LIKE THESE CHESTNUTS ARE TRANSFORMED INTO EXQUISITE SWEETS IN SARZANA. THE BEST PASTICCERIA THERE IS CALLED ‘GEMMI’ AND DATES BACK TO THE EARLY 1800S. IT HAS BEEN RUN BY THE GEMMI FAMILY SINCE 1934
MILLEFOGLIE, BIGNE’S, CROSTATE, buccelato at pasticceria gemmi in sarzana. (WOW! THOSE MILLLEFOGLI ARE ONLY 1 EURO A PIECE. WE SHOULD GET A FEW!)
CANDIED VIOLETS, CANDIED PEEL, RASPBERRY, BLACKBERRY AND MIXED FRUIT PASTELS
QUALITY AND AUTHENTICITY ARE STILL STANDARDS IN ITALY. THEY DEPEND ON THE CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS THE MAKERS
AT PROFUMI FLUVIALI WE’RE PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS CULTURE THAT PROVIDES QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR DISCERNING CLIENTS
A SUNNY WINTER WALK BACK HOME ALONG THE SHORE AT LERICI