Last month, Italy magazine interviewed Carmelita Caruana, “your authentic Italian cooking lady.” Based in Bologna, Carmelita not only blogs about authentic Italian cooking, but since 1999 has presided over a well-regarded cooking school with classes throughout Italy.
I love Carmelita’s cooking mantras:
- Local, seasonal and rooted in history. Eat everything, in moderation. And cook it yourself.
- Simplicity: less is more.
- Flavour, colour, texture: When you eat an apple, eat an apple. When you drink tea, drink tea. Savour the moment.
- I also often say, “First you shop, then you cook, then you play.” The “play” part is about presentation, making the dish look as attractive as possible. I often think about colour when planning a meal. Great colour combinations can really whet the appetite and make the meal that much more enjoyable, because in the end, eating a good dish is sheer pleasure.
Her blog is full of wonderful recipes and beautiful food photography (click on the photos for recipes):
This is a great blog to follow, and if you’re planning to be in Italy, check out her cooking school!