Great news - I am now doing menswear styling !!

It concerns me how many "blokes" need help on choosing an appropriate wardrobe for their lives, both professional and social.  I observe many men making bad choices and overspending when professional help from a stylist would save time and money. 

Hello friends and followers. I haven't blogged for a while so here is an update on local Melbourne life in the world of Susie Gallagher 
We have opened a homewares/fashion Pop Up in Coventry St South Melbourne.
 

Yesterday marked the end of our stay at Villa Ginezzo in Umbria.
It has been wonderful getting to know the small and ancient Umbrian towns.
My favourite by far is Cortona [ la nonna di Roma ] and 4000 years later, it perfectly accommodates the modern traders. 
One restaurant Dardano, which overflowed with Italians at Sunday lunch, was begging us to come in.

Last week in an elegant Melbourne apartment, Susie played private chef to a group of six city folk. 

Our host Glenn, loves to entertain regularly, but prefers someone else to cook. 
He chose one of Susie's warm winter menus, but as he commented, not excessively heavy.
The antipasto  - Crostini with Buffalo ricotta, Susie's hand made pesto and a tiny oven baked tomato, really resembled the Italian flag.

What a lovely way to Sunday on the Mornington Peninsula. Oil growers, chefs and food aficionados were amongst a diverse crowd at Doppio Zero, to learn the art of oil tasting, by world expert, Simon Field. Intrigued by just how many different taste buds we have, the attentive guests leaned to slurp, swish and savour, while rating the oils for bitterness, sweetness, and fruitiness. Susie designed a menu with chef Domenico, where they created "taste" comparisons, cooking the same dish 3 times using 3 different oils - light, fruity and robust....
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This week in Melbourne, we dined on Italian porcelain from the Taitu collection (see photo) at an event which was aesthetically pleasing both to the eye and the taste buds. My philosophy of relaxed dining at home slowly, and in good company, is in synergy with that of the founder of Taitu

" Eating well at a beautiful table, to look each other in the eye and talk, is THE way to relax from the day's stress" - Emilio Bergamin.

Cuisine Adagio presented 2 events last week - again on the Mornington Peninsula. This location does appeal to many who are chilling out in their holiday house.

The first, hosted by Loredana in Dromana, was a rowdy affair with old friends and new vying for audio/ humour status.

A very creamy Risotto Milanese stopped them in their tracks momentarily as they savoured the sensual but delicate flavours. Lucky for us, the guests were wine aficionados, as they treated us to French bubbles, and exotic award winning reds from Foxeys Hangout. Yum!

Well it finally happened! Home at last and on Sunday we had our first food event in the other Sorrento, the one on Mornington Peninsula.

Actually is was at a splendid cliff top homestead, Nyland, one of the first ever built in Portsea, the home of a friend of mine ( see photo) Accompanied by friends and family, 'yours truly' worked hard in the old country kitchen. First challenge was not to trip up on a Jack Russell, Labrador or Cocker Spaniel. Next was how to choose a dining room, as there are several of these.

It was a bit sad last week leaving Summer in Rome especially on a hot and balmy night. How sophisticated to remain at the beach, shower, slip into dining attire and watch the sunset from the al fresco restaurant? The Italians just do it in style don't they?

Spaghetti Vongole at the beach in Ostia was a marvellous way to ease my pain, and also give me a lesson in how the Romans have perfected this dish.

I have eaten it all over Italy and it is never as good as it is in Rome! But why?

It is difficult to rate Toscana - as in every part, you find special dishes which continue to surprise and please you. Safe to say, it IS the food bowl of Italy. At least it is up there with Emilia Romana.

We had the good fortune to be 'gli ospiti' of Samuela & Vittorio from Lucca. What an elegant city! The Lucchese take pride in their cuisine - from Restaurant, Trattoria, to the small food deli, you can eat well! In my element, surrounded by foodies, each evening was a gastronomic revelation. 

Bathing here is so civilised you could make it a pastime . Leonelli, established three generations ago, was recommended as the place to bathe - reason being - why people come from all over the Country to eat here!!! 

So it's not just about throwing your towel on the sand and taking your chances with the elements? On arrival you hire a lettino and umbrella, park yourself comfortably in the midst of the ancient cliff face, dip in the ' if you have not experienced it, do so before you die' water , swimming with your lunch, so to speak. Yes this is how fresh the fruits of the sea are presented for our midday meal.

The hill town of Castellina in Chianti is a 'jewel' with ancient underground corridors (see photo) where religious ceremonies were conducted in Medieval times. More recently they have been used for cantinas, small bars and eateries. A few kilometres out of town, we visited a superb example of agricultural purism - Casamonti owned by Raymonde Lamonthe and his wife Anna Rita. They specialise in olive oil, Chianti wine and Cinta Senese pigs, a very special breed which they have saved from extinction. 
The olive oil is produced from 4 olive varieties. 

How to spend a lazy day at the thermal baths , Bagni Vignoni, in the countryside outside Siena ? Easy - just rent a deck chair, find a spot in the shade under a tree, and stroll over to the thermal bath occasionally and take a slow dip . The waters are therapeutic and very hot - 23 to 24 degrees - so you are forced to move slowly - not exercise. The hours fly, in an atmosphere only Italy can create. 

Where better to commence? The Ancient and beautiful Rome in a district called Monti.

Yesterday was the very beginning of a journey which will inspire to food and travel writings this Summer in Italy.

I will keep you informed as I become inspired with locations, food and information where to eat well!

Monti is the name of one of the twelve Rioni of Rome, rione I. The name literally means mountains in Italian and comes from the fact that the Esquiline and the Viminal Hills, and parts of the Quirinal and the Caelian Hills belonged to this Rione.