Following the success of the last Cibo & Vino Cookbook Club gathering, I’m thrilled to announce the next edition of our pop-up dinner experience: Tuesday, December 3rd, 19:00 CET Location: Zürich, Switzerland This special evening will be dedicated to celebrating the culinary creations of Zürich’s very own Patrizia Fontana. We’ll […]
🥚 It’s World Egg Day, and did you know that around 1.2 TRILLION eggs are eaten globally each year? Yep, that’s 1,200,000,000,000 eggs! 🤯 So let’s crack open some love for this little powerhouse of nutrition! Fun fact: The world record for the most eggs laid by a chicken in […]
Is there a better way to celebrate #WorldVegetarianDay than with this dreamy combo: vibrant pumpkin kissed by earthy sage? Pure autumn magic in every bite! What’s your go-to vegetarian combo this season? I’d love to hear it! Connect with me over at Cibo & Vino Cookbook Club and drop me a […]
Just one week ago, Cibo & Vino Cookbook Club hosted a mouthwatering pop-up dinner celebrating our star ingredient—the beloved tomato! 🍅 As I look back on that delicious evening, I can still taste the harmony of flavors. Food lovers indulged in a variety of dishes, some familiar and some delightfully unexpected. […]
We are finally in full summer here in Switzerland, and fruits are at their peak – including my beloved tomatoes! With warm evenings still lingering, what could be better than a lukewarm fregola salad for dinner? Imagine ripe tomatoes, juicy peaches, succulent nectarines, tangy olives, fresh basil, and finely sliced […]
What you might expect to be a clafoutis… is actually a cake! Inspired by the talented @letitiaclark this delightful cake showcases cherries at their finest, perfectly complemented by creamy ricotta. In true Italian fashion, it’s baked with olive oil instead of butter, adding a zesty twist and a richer texture […]
The best part of the year is finally here! It’s the season when those lush, vibrant tomatoes, bursting with colors and flavors, are at their peak. This is when my creativity truly flourishes… Join me for an exclusive evening at the Cibo & Vino Cookbook Club Dinner on Thursday, September […]
Although summer is still a distant dream here in Switzerland, the stone fruit season has finally arrived. Embracing my motto, “less is more,” I strive for simplicity in baking. Imagine a tender, golden batter bursting with the juicy sweetness of Sicilian flat peaches (thanks to Crowd Container)—that’s my idea of […]
Have you ever experienced a taste so divine it feels like a bite of heaven? Last weekend, I had the extraordinary pleasure of savoring breakfast from The Almond Thief in Totnes (find them on Instagram here). This isn’t just any café—it’s a treasure trove of culinary delights, nestled in a […]
For those of you who follow my culinary adventures closely, you might have noticed that the much-anticipated inaugural Cibo & Vino Cookbook Club Dinner didn’t take place on April 25 as planned. However, last week the stars finally aligned, and I hosted my very first guests for an evening of […]
What’s your go-to household staple for those unexpected moments? As a true Italian with a deep love for Italian cuisine, I always ensure I have the essentials on hand for an impromptu aperitivo. Besides delicious, toasted nuts, my secret weapon is a stash of homemade taralli. These delightful snacks can […]
For me, there are countless delightful ways to savor the brief but glorious strawberry season—my favorite being plucking them fresh, right from the plant. Some of you might have noticed that I’ve discovered a passion for baking in recent years. Naturally, my latest creation features strawberries since we are […]
What better name than “morning glory” for someone like me who absolutely adores the quiet early hours of the day? But why is water spinach also called morning glory? Well, if you’re a bit of a plant enthusiast, you’ll quickly spot that the flowers of this lovely vegetable look a […]
Imagine this: you are standing in front of the oven, anticipation bubbling up as you reach for the handle. With a dramatic flourish, you swing open the door, expecting a culinary masterpiece. But instead of perfection, you’re greeted by… well, let’s just say it’s not exactly what you had in […]
You might find yourself wondering: what exactly are “resties”? Well, they’re simply leftovers – but I’ve taken a liking to the term. Quite unexpectedly, we found ourselves with a day of resties just a few days back. Perhaps it was the wintry weather creeping in again, or maybe it was […]
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- The fresh vegetables ready to be slightly roasted
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- Vegetables and ricotta salata on the phylo dough and ready to go into the oven
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- Crunchy and springy phylo dough something
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- Leftover asparagus water
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- Onions being glazed for the soup
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- Leftover soup cooked in leftover asparagus water and using stale bread to make nice and crunchy bread croutons
Spring brings out my inner pink fanatic. This year, I went all out and decided to jazz up some homemade cookies in—you guessed it—pink. First things first, with those deliciously juicy blood oranges in season, I couldn’t resist incorporating their natural vibrant color into my baking. Picture the classic shortbread […]
Unfortunately the 1st Cibo & Vino Cookbook Club dinner has had to be rescheduled for Thursday, April 25, 2024 due to unforeseen circumstances. If you’ve already registered for the original date, I’ll contact you separately. You might ask yourself what the Cookbook Club is and how it works: by sharing […]
Indulge in an early Spring delight with this light dinner that not only satisfies your taste buds but also delights your senses! Picture this: tender beetroot, sliced with precision just like Hasselback potatoes, lovingly seasoned with a drizzle of olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and a hint of […]
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- Hasselback beetroot
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I find myself journeying to a corner of the world where the delightful concept of pretzel rolls is yet to be discovered. Despite the hotel I’m fortunate to stay in embracing a diverse array of bread from across the globe, the absence of pretzel baked goods is palpable. Enter the […]
Imagine a culinary escapade that’s not just about fulfilling a lasagne craving but embarking on a flavor-filled odyssey. After a lasagne hiatus of 2-3 years, the inspiration has struck, and now, my kitchen is buzzing with creativity. Barely 10 days have passed since my last culinary masterpiece, and this time, […]
Why settle for roses in the midst of winter when you can embrace the vibrant allure of rosa? Join me in the delightful campaign initiated by @natoora, where we celebrate the season of radicchio over roses. Picture this: a salad crafted with love and a touch of rosa, making it […]
Get ready for an unforgettable culinary evening! The inaugural dinner of the Cibo & Vino Cookbook Club is just around the corner, slated for March 27, 2024, at 19:00 CET in the vibrant city of Zurich. Envision an exclusive gathering where the art of gastronomy converges with the warmth of […]
Embark on a culinary adventure as we bid adieu to the pumpkin season in style! Picture this: layers of golden pumpkin intertwined with robust salsicce, crafting a masterpiece that transforms an ordinary winter day into a gastronomic delight. In this enchanting gastronomic symphony, the bold trio of sage, rosemary, and […]
Embracing the depths of winter in Switzerland, where the weather fluctuates between snowy landscapes and the first hints of spring, I felt inspired to craft a hearty meal using two wonderfully “earthy” ingredients. Rather than opting for the traditional Italian rabbit recipe, which usually involves roasting it with tomatoes and […]
Hello, epicurean enthusiasts! Today marks the grand launch of my very own cookbook club, and I’m thrilled to have you join the gastronomic adventure! Did I sprinkle some Italian magic on it? You bet! 🇮🇹 Brace yourself for a journey into the realms of “cibo” (that’s food in Italian) and […]
Winter in Zurich has been a thrilling rollercoaster of temperatures lately, ranging from a mild 3 degrees to a surprising 13 degrees, with a chilly dip to -10 in between. But isn’t that the essence of our new winter adventure? Speaking of winter delights, imagine savoring the perfect taste of […]
Yes, I am Italian and yes, I like to follow some traditions … my way … In Italy, tradition dictates that eating lentils in the days following the New Year brings good luck and prosperity in the coming year. The small round legumes resemble gold coins and are believed to […]
What a year … full of emotions, health issues and surprises …! I am thankful for what 2023 gave me and am looking forward to 2024 and what it has to offer. 2023 was of course filled with culinary highlights … may this flow of creativity continue …! […]
While the days are gradually growing shorter, there’s a silver lining in Switzerland – mushroom season is currently in full swing, and it’s a delight to behold. Thanks to the perfect blend of sunshine and rain, these diverse fungi are not only abundant but also exceptionally flavorful. For the past […]
It may sound simple, but trust me, it’s not as easy as it seems! Imagine this: a delicious loaf of bread paired with some creamy butter – it’s a heavenly combination! I recently attended a workshop where I learned how to bake a perfect, tangy bread and craft my own […]
Just a couple of days ago, we marked World Pasta Day (25.10), and I took a moment to reflect on what pasta means to me: the World! I mean, come on, is there anything more comforting, loving, and soul-filling than a plate of heavenly pasta? Some folks might tease Italians […]
What makes a weekend truly perfect, you ask? Well, let me paint you a vibrant picture! On Friday night, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting a dinner for a long-lost family friend. After years of lost contact, our paths crossed again a couple of weeks ago. Picture this: porcini […]
As the days grow colder and autumn’s touch lingers in the air, there’s something special about heading to the local market for a handful of fresh, hearty mushrooms. Start by gently brushing off any lingering earth from the mushrooms, and remember, never soak them in water – that’s the secret […]
The recent weather drop had me yearning for some hearty eats. As a meat lover, I couldn’t wait for game season, which is in full swing right now. I’m lucky to be in a city that serves up local Swiss game with some strict but much-needed rules – especially for […]
I was very lucky to have an amazing culinary experience with those fresh oysters! Our perspective on appreciating access to pure and fresh food is indeed a valuable one. Gratitude for what we have and being mindful of what we put into our bodies is important – more than ever […]
Dive into the world of figs, those love-’em-or-hate-’em wonders! Me? I’m head over heels for these little beauties, and half my year is dedicated to scouring markets for the perfect figs. And guess what? It’s prime fig season right now, and I’m floating on cloud nine! Let’s talk about this […]
True, if you ask me what I typically like to eat for lunch on a Sunday, a sandwich is not far from being at the very bottom of the list. Today is a different Sunday: being very low on energy the last three weeks, I decided this morning to both […]
With just a couple of ingredients this dish unites the freshness of a burrata, the crunchiness of the hazelnuts and the wintery hearty feeling of the Brussels sprouts and bacon. A keeper … at least in my house.
We had a fun and rather unconventional Easter dinner last Sunday with family and friends: pizza festival. As a consequence (I believe) and only since last night, I have been craving pulled lamb. Luckily my favorite butcher at the weekly market had a super tasty lamb shoulder, which made a […]
This end of winter risotto will surprise you with the very distinct taste of the grumolo salad. The creaminess of the ricotta will smoothen the slightly bitter taste with the salsiccia adding an additional very distinct flavour. As a topping I added bread crumbs, which I gently roasted with fresh […]
I can’t recommend this dish highly enough: three different tastes and textures of fish/seafood, the creaminess of coconut milk and the tang of a garlic, corriander and lime marinade. Served in a bowl of hearty rice this is a warm hug both for your soul and your stomach. You will […]
Puntarelle are another of my beloved bitter winter greens. After having eaten them earlier this week as a salad, I decided to make up a quick pasta dish. The bitterness is more intense … a tiny spoon of sugar did the trick to make the dish “rounder”. To finish off, […]
Although the days are slowly getting lighter and warmer, the nights are still bitter cold so a hearty ragu served on a plate of pasta is as welcome as a warm hug from a friend. A hearty and deep red ragu with some of the best, that Sicily has to […]
With the blood orange season in full swing, this vibrant coloured salad will bring vitamins and a warm heart to your dinner. I served it with a steak and some nice bread to scoop up the sauces.
Many of you have probably already found and followed online recepies for a pumpkin risotto, so I will spare you the detailed receipe and jump straight into the sensations: With some spare pumpkin (from the amazing pumpkin and chocolate cake I made the other day) and some white wine, I […]
As the days get darker and colder the wish for more warmth rises also in what we eat! This dish is a perfect combination of flavours – each of them well balanced and contributing to a satisfying plate of pasta. I choose to serve this sauce with tagliatelle made with […]
I was looking forward to freshness … a fresh salad with an equally fresh sauce. The combination of tahini, lime zest and juice as well as freshly pressed garlic gave the lamb‘s lettuce a nice nip, whilst the beetroot added it‘s round earthy taste. Will definitely try more sauces with […]
It has been one of those days … I am tired, cold and hungry… When opening my fridge I feel gratitude for what I find: a bright orange pumpkin, some smoked bacon and a bunch of sage. I also remember a can of cannellini beans in my pantry. Within a […]
I got inspired by some almonds and sardines and decided to try a new version of pesto by adding some sage. I served this impressive sauce with al dente rigatoni, which was the right choice for this dense flavour. To balance the meal, I quickly made a fresh and crunchy […]
The first of many tasty soups as the days are getting shorter and shorter… The smoked organic pancetta was a unique addition to this plate full of goodness: Swiss chard, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, garlic and celery … and time …
A comforting one-pot dish with many different flavors and textures, which compliment each other to the finest: the sweetness of the white martini compared with the fennel seeds and the texture of the pulpo compared with the mashed potatoes… Heaven on a plate!
What a fantastic way of celebrating a Sunday brunch: mushrooms on a slice of tasty multi-grain bread served with a fried egg and a tasty green salad with lemon zest, lemon juice and EVO. Incredible to experience the balance between the different textures and flavours … definitely to be repeated […]
With the season of figs in full swing – my endless desire to eat figs and a crave for ricotta I decided to adapt the great receipe of Emiko Davies somewhat to make it a feast.
Everybody told me I was crazy trying to make jam out of cantaloupe melons … but it worked! Also thanks to the inspiration from the wonderful Emiko Davies. The dough of this crostata is your standard shortcrust – I just added the zest of a bio lemon and used salted […]
It has been a while since I have been baking my own bread – mainly because of rather intense travelling over the last month. I am however back to my routine of baking bread … and as such also to the routine of eating a home-made sandwich. Today’s edition was […]
A real summer treat … perfect for dessert, a brunch or afternoon coffee… Be careful when mixing the berries under the batter so that they are kept whole and don’t leave the cake too moist.
Peaches at their best: ripe, juicy and combined with a crunchy dough. Definitely to be repeated … with different fruits? Summer in a tasty pie
The spicy sausage, the colourful peppers and the salty ricotta salata…a quick mid-week pasta dish satisfying cravings on yet another cold and wet summer evening. A colorful and spicy mid-week pasta dish
As a new member of Slow Food, I had to experiment my first concious official Slow Food receipe – although I am quite sure that this is not really my first Slow Food receipe. Farina bona is a very traditional flour from the Onsernone valley in the canton of Ticino […]
I based myself on the delicious galette from Falastin with beetroot and feta and turned it into a version à la provençale with chèvre and a lot of thyme as well as honey from the region. A labour of love which is worth every minute of thought and work. To […]
Inspired by the great Ottolenghi, this tasty cauliflower cake was a welcome snack with a glass of blanc de blanc last night. The dough is half whole wheat flour and half regular wheat flour, I omitted two eggs and used more cauliflower. All in all a satisfying savory cake, which […]
We ran out of cake the other day (I know, how could that have happened…!) so I took a look at our stock of food and decided to make a crostata with cherry marmalade, which we made two weeks ago. While mixing the shortcrust dough together in a meditative way, […]
Not sure about you, but I could eat pasta every day … guess not a huge surprise for an Italian …! I do however like variety and have come up with this great topping the other day. Crunchy breadcrumbs roasted in olive oil (in my case I used ones from […]
I am currently still in the beautiful Provence and one of the many things I enjoy are the marchés des producteurs. The other day I found some gorgeous looking beetroot and could not hold myself. Don‘t you just love these leaves…they look like they have blood going through their veins. […]
We found some delicious looking pulpo last weekend at the market in Pernes-les-Fontaines and I could simply not resist the freshness and temptation! I made this receipe up as I went along and was really happy with the overall taste and the balanced flavours … the lemon zest, the taste […]
What is a balanced meal for you? Do you have a list of what you should resp should not be eating? Do you trust your cravings? For last night’s dinner party I went for what my guests and I like, knowing that all in all it is a balanced meal: […]
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What a day…full to the brim with exciting projects, webinars, neighbors …. It is therefore not a surprise that dinner plans went sideways … but Thank God for orzo: a quick and vegetarian comforting plate of orzo mixed with spinach and cherry tomatoes served with ricotta and lemon zest.
Can you believe that after so many years of passionate cooking and baking it was not until yesterday that I made my first homemade granola! And can you believe that I actually planned to make something else and the „happy mistake“ at least gave me granola as a result. I […]
My first goose egg and I am literally overwhelmed! Really not sure what to do with it… I read that geese lay there eggs between October and May…so we are definitely coming to the end of the season. While hen lay up to 200 eggs a year, geese lay a […]
Wow, what an explosion of flavours: chicken marinated in date molasses. Three from the five basic tastes are triggered with every delicious bite: sweet, salty and bitterness. Accompanied with a green salad and some rice, this is a quick and rewarding meal to serve. Juicy chicken combined with an explosion […]
After a day at work, an intensive lunchtime workout and a webinar about food diplomacy and the impact of cooks, I was craving for a tasty and satisfying Spring midweek dinner. Within a few minutes I had prepared this beautiful dish with new potatoes and fresh peas seasoned with EVO […]
Can you believe it, but until a couple of days ago, I had never made what is THE traditional Sunday lunch for my Italian part of the family myself: braciole al sugo. For me it has always been a very special treat when I visit them and I guess this […]
How do you judge if something you baked was good? Compliments? Silence at the table? Mmmmmms? I made a tarte au citron the other day and got this photo as a reply as to whether it was tasty … it says it all!
We are finally (again) in the phase, where you hopp from one season to another within a few hours. This beautiful morning sunlit composition shows you Mother Nature’s answer in terms of vegetables: the picturesque Castelfranco almost steals the show while the newly available basil and asparagus just dare to […]
Spent the afternoon in Basel to see a lovely exhibition and an extraordinary installation. Before going to the museum, we stopped to visit the Münster and saw some creative flags done by the citizens of Basel to express what they currently feel and want to share. My favorite is the […]
A great way to celebrate Spring: (even though the weather is really still quite wintery) some fresh and crisp green asparagus pasta accompanied by a lemon ricotta sauce. A lemon infused pasta dish with ricotta and green asparagus
Like many of you, I have tackled the world of sourdough bread baking during the pandemic – something that had been on my bucket list since a while … As a fairly successful home cook (as my family and friends like to see me) failing regularly has not been a […]
When a foodie wants to impress a restaurant owner … Both the super tasty cornbread from Ottolenghi‘s Simple and the delicious blood orange and pistachio cake from Honey & Co look amazing but unfortunately they were not quite right in terms of texture this time around. Lessons learned for next […]
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No other dish gives me more comfort and at the same time makes me miss my nonna so much: pasta e piselli. I have finally found the real Italian salsiccia, which gives this dish the spicy touch. The fresh peas and the leek give it the herby-flavour and the ditalli […]
We are in full spring here in Zurich (although it did decide to snow the last two days…) and the wild garlic is available in abundance, which is probably also why there are many creative ways out there to use wild garlic other than pesto. These scones are very easy […]
What a surprise to wake up to snow this morning when two days ago I was dreaming of swimming in the lake … April definitely started off with some crazy weather … I nevertheless took the opportunity to get some beautiful tulips and the first fresh peas … at least […]
Already my second receipe from Emiko Davies’ gorgeous book Torta della Nonna and I can’t wait to continue this endeavor. Ricotta and pears have a very long tradition in Italy and the addition of the lemon zest and vanilla makes this crostata a love at first bite.
This receipe brings me back to happy childhood memories and warm Easter days with la famiglia from Napoli. Like most family receipes, also this one has been changed from generation to generation…we even changed it since last year and will most probably continue to do so … This receipe is […]
Not bad for a Monday lunch: homemade sourdough discard bread with roasted hazelnuts, homemade relish with Alpenkäse curtesy of #babette and some nice and crunchy Treviso radicchio
You might think it is controversial to enjoy a slice of crunchy sourdough bread … but it is actually very surprising and as such fulfilling. I was craving for a bread with roasted hazelnuts…don’t ask me how this came about because I had not had this before. By simply adding […]
As an Italian, I am a rather conservative cook when it comes to our jewels…and risotto is certainly one of them. But what do they say: special times ask for special actions… 🤔 I was a happy host last night, when this super tasty and surprisingly fresh citrus risotto accompanied […]
Are you also having “that kind of Monday”? I certainly am … so I decided to treat myself with some olives…even better, this gorgeous smelling olive sourdough bread. What do you do, when you are having “one of those days”?
After my first 20 min run in a year and just before an inspriring webinar for International Women’s Day, a quick and nearly entirely homemade sandwich gives me strengh for the afternoon ahead. The first of wild garlic in my kitchen this season gives the sandwich a nice and sharp […]
It’s been a busy few days, but I have managed to make my first no-kneed bread: the combination of emmer whole wheat and spelt flour give the bread a nice and rustic taste. I also added a few walnuts to enhance the flavours. This sandwich was life-saving during an intese […]
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This citrusy cake tastes as vibrant as it looks. Letitia Clark’s receipe is a perfect way out of a winter depression … the Southern sun literally shines in your kitchen. The cake needs to be completely cooled before it is served and will keep well for 3-4 days. A very […]
You might have noticed my absence these past two weeks…the sourdough fever hit me – my sleep and as a consequence my days … and actions … I am slowly getting some presentable results and will not hold back this delicious sandwich: home made olive sourdough bread with home made […]
This risotto surprises with the freshness of the pomegranate seeds, the sharp ruccola as well as with the creaminess of the manchego. A vegetarian risotto with a surprisingly fresh taste
I am sure you have seen the craze about the baked feta pasta lately…well, I decided to join…but my way… As you might know, I love Mediterranean food, so I decided to give this famous dish a certain twist. A quick mid-week pasta dish that will leave you surprised
Who said that hummus can only be made out of chickpeas? This tasty hummus has white beans as a basis, which is nicely complimented by the caramelised onion wedges and radicchio leaves. Another great Diana Henry receipe, which I will definitely be making again, and again, and again…
I guess you can’t go more Mediterranean than with this beautiful clementine and almond cake. It is my first experience with muscovado sugar and I like the way the smoky taste is an amazing contrast to the slightly bitter clementine and lemon pulp. The crunchy topping is the perfect contrast […]
This not really a receipe, more a creative moment in my kitchen: A few days ago I cooked some artichokes with lemon until they were both nice and tender. I then drained them while keeping the water I had cooked them in. Tonight I decided to cook some red wheat […]
A few days ago I saw a post from @emikodavies which inspired me to try out this unusual combination of a bitter salad in a sweet cake … a beautiful cake … ready to sweeten my Monday morning
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When life sends you #artichokes … you make #artichokefrittata Thank you @crowdcontainer for having organised these tasty and tender artichokes. I woke up with the desire to fully use these beauties (actually wanted to make pancakes) and just followed my instinct … and here you go … a very tasty […]
As an Italian, I obviously have my set idea of what a lasagne should look like, taste like, smell like. But now and then it is worth jumping a bit over your own shadow and let great chefs like Diana Henry inspire you to something new, different and just sooooo […]
For those of you, who are “cacio e pepe lovers” like me, this is a welcome and wintery variation – especially in the peak of the orange season. I was a bit sceptical to change this “sacro santo” from Rome, but my brave move was rewarded with this super tasty […]
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