May in Italy
Imagine coming to Italy during the merry month of May and by chance coming upon one of those typical village festivals or Sagre as they are known here. There's a lot of movement in the village squares where tables are colourfully arranged with local products prepared in the age-old way for the village people and for any passers bye wishing to partake in this traditional celebration. Even the local wines have their place since what is a plate of good fare without just the right wine to go with it.
In the north you will find food for palates more used to heavier ingredients because of the colder weather and the influence of the vicinity of neighbouring countries. These dishes include meat, sausages and potatoes, beans and other legumes and desserts with plenty of cream and chocolate as well as full-bodied red wines.
The centre of Italy tends towards lamb and olive oil, white wines and fish with pasta dishes made with crustaceans of all kinds. There is an abundance of fruit ranging from strawberries to peaches, from plums to figs. The climate lends itself to a vast production during this period of artichokes prepared in a myriad of recipes for all tastes and cheeses and pastry are light and fragrant here.
The south of Italy is orange country and your noses will pick up the fragrance of the orange blossoms, something that will never be forgotten. Here fish is rife and the recipes abound in many restaurants with their patios facing the sea where you can see tables laden with graceful compositions of local products. Sweets and cakes abound in marzipan and the fresh lemon water-ice is favoured during the summer heat.
This is the time for all the firstlings that will now grace our tables - an amazing wealth of colour ranging from a delicate green of the asparagus to the flaming red of the strawberries, from the deep maroon of the egg-plants to the bright yellow of the carrots offering us a feast of colours, tastes and fragrances, certainly the best of all the seasons.
It only remains to wish Buon Appetito to all those lucky wayfarers who travel along this country rich in hospitality and excellent fare!
