an italian summer

one of my very gorgeous friends – jaime, gifted me with the most beautiful of books recently. its called ‘recipes from an italian summer’.

i was awestruck by the exquisite recipes, earthy paper stock, illustrated cover and breath taking photography that truly made you feel like you were curled up right on the picnic rug in the very field in which some of the photos had been taken.

i love how it becomes not just a book of recipes but an entire journey and taste teaser of a little of what italy and the italian culture have to offer. its a book that conjures up images creating a yearning to discover and taste. the suggestions on which italian food festivals to check out all look like a must and a great way to start planning a holiday around.

these are some snapshots taken from a little of what lies within its contents. simple. beautiful. honest. raw.

take a trip to a good bookstore and get a copy. maybe you’ll get to come to italy with me too.

ps – a huge thank you for the massive encouragement from this wonderful lady. so lovely to get a mention once more. there is oodles of inspiration to be found amidst her creative pages. go visit.

ripe

there is a place that you must find – more of a haven, a foodies delight, where all the locals and regulars visit daily to get their morning coffee and escape the wintery chill, warming their stomaches with brioche pulled hot from the oven and attempting, extremely difficultly to narrow their choice to a single selection from their bulging cabinet. 

you will be welcomed in with wide arms and big grins to ‘ripe‘, the most delectable deli on richmond road in ponsonby/grey lynn. you will be hard pressed to find a deli anywhere that can compare to its charm, its zest, its people and their passion.

the above snaps are some pics i shot of their book ‘ripe recipes’, which i treated myself to today (actual photos in book by the very talented sally greer). i have been dying for ages to purchase it but had yet to get around to it. however today, with urge and necessity in the very pit of my stomach, i strolled through their doors and clasped my hands around a copy. admittedly i only made it to my car across the road before i had to thumb open its front cover and devour its contents.

a book of sheer beauty, honesty, warmth and passion. angela redfern and her talented team at ripe make their love for food known and their neighbourhood loves them back so much in return. with recipes ranging from the basics of pestos and tapenades to luscious summer salads and hearty wintery shanks and soups, your mouth will be left watering. i know i am just dying to make a replica of their rhubarb butterscotch layer cake.  it has also given me refreshing inspiration to get a tad more creative with my work lunches – plenty of visuals to choose from – maple kumara, bacon and walnut salad, a twist on a simple raw energy salad and a lovely smoky chorizo israeli couscous salad which looks so tantalising!

seriously, get this book. add it to your collection. you will fall in love with food all over again and think the illustrations by michelle ineson (also store manager at ripe) are the perfect finishing touch.

stay tuned for a post in the near future which will conjure up some of their ‘ripe’ magic.