All posts filed under: treviso

Italian Summer Food Fairs

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In our Summer months, there’s always a local sagra –fair to visit. It’s a celebration of food, and family entertainment.If you visit Italy during this time of the year, it’s a great opportunity to support local groups,volunteer “cooks” with a passion for food, eat cheaply, trying traditional dishes and enjoy live entertainment.There’s fairs of food like asparagus, rice, chicken,tripe, and even larger fairs with an event like a music/singing contest,a bicycle race, a water craft boat regatta , country line dance contest and rodeo, to name a few. We had the opportunity to visit the “Festa dea Sardea” meaning Festival of Sardines in Silea,Treviso,Italy. Sardines at this fair are available grilled,crumbed, and traditional venice style with sweet/sour onions. Sardines are rich in numerous nutrients that have been found to support cardiovascular health. An excellent source of Vitamin B12 and concentrated in Vitamin D, packed with protein. Sardines are best eaten fresh,and as I don’t prepare them often at home,we decided to venture out to this fair, with a grand surprise of how many people were …

Walk on my Clouds

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Silvano and myself had the opportunity to take a Sunday drive this morning. Heading for Susegana,Province Treviso, Region Veneto, Italy’s well-known region for its wine – Prosecco. Prosecco is a white grape and makes a sparkling wine. This picturesque drive takes us through a region of winding roads with a canopy of shady trees and hillsides overflowing with vineyards. Characteristic of the film,( which always leaves that romantic feeling at heart) A Walk in the Clouds.    This drive is just breath-taking, stopping nearly every five minutes to take photo’s, we continue along a tourist trail, actually called ” Prosecco Road”. It’s also a well-known tourist attraction for cyclists, trail bikes and trekkers.    Travelling along this road we arrive at the ruins of one of Susegana’s castles, The Castle of Collalto. Most of the castle was destroyed during the great war (1915 – 1918), and today there’s little left of its walls. What ruins there are remain covered by overgrown greenery and forest. Two guard towers remain today with the entrance arches.    The church of Saint George was reconstructed in the 1930’s after it’s destruction in the …

Treviso…villa’s and gardens

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As I wander along the walkway outside the walls of Treviso, the beauty and serenity can hardly be captured in a click of a camera. To take in this beauty I wish you could share an hour with me, walking along the shady pathway with its huge horse-chestnut trees, its calming meandering river, and its beautiful scenery.    Just outside the wall, through the gateway of Porta Calvi, but within the circular boundary of the centre of Treviso there are many beautiful villa’s and gardens.    All with their unique architecture and facades…and gardens that are at the water’s edge.    A private but public hide away. I love the entrances to these villa’s with grand iron gateways, entangled with ivy and emblems. Statues , columns and frescoed art , symbols of  grandeur.  Their pristine gardens and blooming spring flowers, an open” welcome”  invitation.    Treviso is truly a beautiful place and is harmonious in saying “la bella vita” –  the beautiful life. I truly am lucky to live in a beautiful and safe place.

Two peas in a pod

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In the region Veneto, we have a large number of recipes with the base ingredient of rice. One of these favourite  well-known recipes is Rice with Peas * i risi e bisi . Taking the opportunity at the fresh growers market I purchased two kilo’s of fresh peas. Having a few recipes in mind, my choice is this one.   I know what you’re thinking, it’s just easier to buy a can of peas, or go to the freezer, but believe me there’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh peas. Let the senses glee with the sound of the crunch of the pea pod, the wonderful rich green colour, the perfume of fresh pearl peas, the taste and the silky glossy feel. I know I always think of my grandmothers shelling peas in the kitchen, but believe me they had it right, the  fresh taste makes all the difference.   This traditional plate is known to have been served to the Duke of Venice on the patron saints day of Saint Marks. The difference with this recipe apart from other risotto recipes is that the broth is added …

Green with Ivy

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I’m surrounded by lush green vineyards in the heat of our first Spring days an unusual but pleasant image, unusual for me after many dry, sunburnt amber Summers in Australia. It’s  truly a welcomed image after the long Winter we’ve had. My life is surrounded by green.      This photo was taken this Winter, a beautiful image also of our vineyard…      Along the lush corridors around our home.  The trees are tangled with climbing evergreen ivy, even in my garden the grand old oaks trunk is covered with meandering ivy.      This image of our old oak tree was taken this Winter…      ….no fences here…a hedge of green      While walking around Treviso, I found this villa covered in ivy…        An interesting article I read from Better Homes and Gardens, May 2010,(Yes , I got my hands on an english version) was Easy Outdoor Containers. Anyone, even the least green thumb gardener can achieve beautiful containers of plants grown to their potential with the basic anatomy of the pot correct, good quality of top soil and potting mix, the right position for  light source …

To Market…To Market

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I couldn’t resist the urge this morning to get all the housework finished early and take a look around the markets in the heart of Treviso. The weather forecast was for rain but ignoring all-weather reports I decided to take the chance and head off, with walking shoes on, camera , wallet and no room for an umbrella. I must admit today I looked like a tourist and that’s how I played the game. Arriving outside the wall, I took a brisk walk into the centre of Treviso, the markets are an open-aired market and divided into three areas…fruit and vegetables, fish and everything else.    Treviso’s markets are every Tuesday and Saturday, and are a real buzz. You can buy almost anything, clothes, shoes, belts and accessories. Fresh fish, fruit and vegetables,you can buy a cooked chicken to a new pet mouse or canary.    It was fun walking around with camera in hand, and I surely did stand out in the crowd. Everyone was happy to smile and let me take the shot, and I think I must …