“Food and family nourish our bodies and souls”
I recently returned from a long overdue trip to Calabria (nearly two decades since my last visit) and was asked about my favourite meal during my time there. Over the course of two weeks I enjoyed countless moments punctuated by delectable meals, but more than the flavours, I enjoyed the connection that came over sharing food in the company of my family.
The welcome lunch consisting of pasta al forno and melagiani chini (stuffed eggplants) prepared by my cousin followed by our first brioche with gelato in the evening while strolling along the Marina.
The countless capuccini e cornetti I enjoyed after my morning walk along the lungomare either on my own or in the company of my cousin. The ones shared as I connected and reconnected with family members, the ones pre and post morning mass at our feste patronali (feasts for the towns’ patron saints) and even the farewell breakfast on departure day.
I relished in the homemade meals prepared daily by my relatives who graciously invited us into their homes: classic antipasti consisting of local salumi and cheeses, sotto aceti (pickled and preserved vegetables), fresh bread, paste casareccie in a myriad of sauces, prupetti (meatballs), croquettes, risotto, roast meats and fish, salads, and fresh fruits (particularly the figs plucked straight from the tree) always followed by caffe (hot and cold) and dolci (many of which I purchased and presented as my token of appreciation); croquembouche, profiterole, assorted pastries and gelato.
Let us not forget the mouth watering delicacies we enjoyed seaside at our Lido (the frittura di pesce at the Costa Azzura was delectable), on route to a scenic destination (our sandwiches at Numa were some of the most notable) or upon our return from an afternoon adventure (the aperitivi at Golosia were extraordinary). I also very much adored our mid afternoon merende of Kinder brioche, artisinal mostaccioli and cantuccini, handcrafted amaretti, refreshing granite, crema di caffe and latte di mandorla. There were also a few savoury snacks like our patatine on the beach.
If there was one defining family food on this trip though it would have to be pizza, from the slices the girls and I picked up at the fornaio (bake shop) and enjoyed as a picnic on a panchina (bench) at the beach, to the takeout we enjoyed on the balcony as we watched the proceedings of the Festa della Madonna and finally the pizzas we went out to eat on two separate occasions with our relatives, each time filing ourselves at long family tables, where the abundance of food was matched only by that of joy and laughter.
So to answer the question, what I enjoyed most, anything that was shared in the company of my cousins, aunts and uncles. It wasn’t so much enjoying family recipes as family being the recipe; where an endless amount of love and laughter were combined with kindness, friendship, faith, hope and tenderness were served up with generosity creating memories to last a lifetime. Buon Appetito!
