What have you done today thread?

[gremlin]

Cooked a proper Bolognese this morning - sofrito, panchetta, pork and beef mince, mushrooms, basil, parsley, oregano and tomatoes. Having that later tonight.

Whilst we're harping on about Italian staples, it's never a Bolognese sauce. It's a ragu. And should be served with a fresh egg pappardelle*, never spaghetti, as it sticks to pappardelle better.

*Top marks for getting the lad involved. Now get him to knock up the pasta: 100g tipo 00 flour to one egg. Knead, rest for 30 mins (the pasta, not him: get him washing up) and then roll, either manually or though a machine. Cook for a minute and just before it's ready, drain, add just enough ragu to coat the pasta, then finish cooking it in the ragu, whereupon the pasta will suck up all the flavour.

If you have a nice loaf of proper bread, tear off a hunk and make yourself a scarpetta, literally 'little shoe', to mop up any leftover sauce from the plate.

Buon appetito!

[Yorick]

Nearly every day for last 9 years I've done a lovely 4 mile walk with Elvis. Lots of it open ground for him to run around and a long stretch of quiet sea front.

But haven't done it for a while due to injuries, ailments and stuff going on.

In that time Elvis has slowed down and it's too far for him now.

I did it today and really enjoyed it. But not same without him.

Thinking of driving into town and just doing the seafront bit sometimes. He loves interacting with folk on same walk.

[Noggin]

My wife sort of complained that when we're out we never get a coffee in Costas or suchlike like all her mates do. This is mainly because I don't really drink coffee, but being a dutiful hubby I took her in one yesterday. She had a cappuccino but I didnt want one of those with chocolate on it so took the recommendation of a latte, which was basically an oversized mug of warm milk with an almost undetectable hint of coffee in there. They were medium sized drinks and both were best part of £4 each. Thank God she didnt want a slice, or should I say sliver, of cake at the same price! Turns out I should have opted for a flat white and I'll have that next time. Next time, yeah right...

Costa coffee reminds me of a quote by Eric Idle about American beer. He compared it to making love in a canoe.

As in, It's fucking close to water...

Mrs. G, in a moment of being unsupervised by me, asked for a 'latte' at breakfast whilst in Italy last week.

She received a glass of milk.

It was interesting in the UK as I was never a coffee drinker there so a new experience of drinking coffee - in general I am not a fan of UK coffee in cafes etc and avoid anything like Costa like the plague

But funnily here, I went to see some friends a couple of weekends ago and she said, Tea or Coffee. I had to reply with, not being a coffee snob, but what kind of coffee

Anyway, she had a Senseo machine and that coffee generally isn't too bad so I said with sugar as it's often a little more bitter than the coffee I use?

Turns out they make white coffee from the machine First time I've had a white coffee in ages (in France - had to have milk in coffee in Turin as their coffee was too thick ). But it was actually quite nice !

[Count Steer]

I've always pronounced it 'lah-teh', with no Italian laughing in my face or shaking their head in bewilderment.

Except maybe in Sicily, where I may as well have been speaking Arapaho, such is their accent and dialect.

Looks like I may have been given duff gen or a regional pronunciation. It seems that lah -té or lah-teh is but laar-té is

(Not that I ever drink it any more. Do like a morning cappuccino though).

Coffee from the UK chains is invariably too watery or milky. A shot of espresso in a small cup with a frothed milk making up the rest of the drink is a true cappuccino. All this 'bucket of piss-weak coffee and a morning's-worth of lactation from a cow' is an abomination.

I started making my own.

I do remember asking for one after 11am in Italy (can't remember which bit, it was a few years ago) and being told 'Cappuccino is breakfast'!

Oh, and...wife was on a business trip to Bologna. In the meeting the host says 'Coffee?'. Everyone agrees, that would be nice, expecting it to be brought into the meeting.

Nope...out they go, down the street, into the coffee place. Swift espresso (bit like in-flight refuelling as opposed to the French penchant to take an hour over a cup), back up the street, into meeting and 'Now, where were we?'.

[gremlin]

I do remember asking for one after 11am in Italy (can't remember which bit, it was a few years ago) and being told 'Cappuccino is breakfast'!

We went with friends last week. My mate always wants a cappuccino, no matter the time.

I started many an order with, 'Mi dispiace, ma il mio amico e inglese e lui vuole a un cappuccino, nonnostante e troppo tardi...*'

*Sorry, my friend is English and wants a cappuccino, even though it's too late...'

Sympathetic looks from the waiter.

[Yorick]

There's no coffee snobbery here. Cafe con leche is always great and never paid over 2€

[Noggin]

There's no coffee snobbery here. Cafe con leche is always great and never paid over 2€

Is that more or less than the beer ??

[gremlin]

Crema caffe is a summer treat in Italy. Creamy, sweet and cold with a real coffee hit. You know it ain't good for ya, but you gotta have one.

IMG-20250602-WA0003_copy_563x640.jpg (71.99 KiB) Viewed 283 times

[Noggin]

Crema caffe is a summer treat in Italy. Creamy, sweet and cold with a real coffee hit. You know it ain't good for ya, but you gotta have one.

IMG-20250602-WA0003_copy_563x640.jpg

That I would totally try !!!

[gremlin]

Crema caffe is a summer treat in Italy. Creamy, sweet and cold with a real coffee hit. You know it ain't good for ya, but you gotta have one.

IMG-20250602-WA0003_copy_563x640.jpg

That I would totally try !!!

Bicherin is another one you'd like. I've only ever seen it in Turin, but basically it's a shot of espresso, a shot of thick, bitter chocolate (albeit sweetened with sugar) and then a bloody great spoonful of proper whipped cream floating on top, served in a large cappuccino cup.

Kind of a 'heart attack in a cup' drink, but you'd die with a smile on yer face.

[Noggin]

Crema caffe is a summer treat in Italy. Creamy, sweet and cold with a real coffee hit. You know it ain't good for ya, but you gotta have one.

IMG-20250602-WA0003_copy_563x640.jpg

That I would totally try !!!

Bicherin is another one you'd like. I've only ever seen it in Turin, but basically it's a shot of espresso, a shot of thick, bitter chocolate (albeit sweetened with sugar) and then a bloody great spoonful of proper whipped cream floating on top, served in a large cappuccino cup.

Kind of a 'heart attack in a cup' drink, but you'd die with a smile on yer face.

Next time I go there, I'll try to remember that!! (hoping that I can get a bike soon, then I'll be heading there just cos !!! )

[MrLongbeard]

Black, 1 sugar if you must, but none of this froo froo milky shite.
I have to avoid chain coffee shops as I'd have to kill them all for the amount of times I used to be asked if I wanted milk in my americano.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Americano itself is something of an insult right? I always assumed so.

Coffee like an American, said with eye rolls.

[Noggin]

Black, 1 sugar if you must, but none of this froo froo milky shite.
I have to avoid chain coffee shops as I'd have to kill them all for the amount of times I used to be asked if I wanted milk in my americano.

I am trying to wean off sugar in coffee, but often it's just too bitter without a bit of sug But at home I try and buy coffee I can drink without

[MrLongbeard]

Americano itself is something of an insult right? I always assumed so.

Coffee like an American, said with eye rolls.

True, but as close as to a coffee as you'll get in a chain coffee store, another reason to avoid them.
The fella that does the local coffee van at work has it about right, 2 espresso shots, in half the usual volume of hot water for an Americano, sets me up right to make it through the afternoon.

Hell, what do I know I weened myself from a coffee every hour on the hour to 3 coffee's a week, and I still prefer coffee from my aeropress than anything a fancy arsed barista could knock up.

[MrLongbeard]

Black, 1 sugar if you must, but none of this froo froo milky shite.
I have to avoid chain coffee shops as I'd have to kill them all for the amount of times I used to be asked if I wanted milk in my americano.

I am trying to wean off sugar in coffee, but often it's just too bitter without a bit of sug But at home I try and buy coffee I can drink without

As with anything quality is key, sod white sugar, even demerara is pants on it's own.
But you get a nice dark muscovado with a sprinkle of light brown sugar to break up the muscovado, and it's delicious, again, in my opinion, I only allow it once a week.

[Yorick]

The missus puts honey in when she makes me a coffee.

[gremlin]

That I would totally try !!!

Bicherin is another one you'd like. I've only ever seen it in Turin, but basically it's a shot of espresso, a shot of thick, bitter chocolate (albeit sweetened with sugar) and then a bloody great spoonful of proper whipped cream floating on top, served in a large cappuccino cup.

Kind of a 'heart attack in a cup' drink, but you'd die with a smile on yer face.

Next time I go there, I'll try to remember that!! (hoping that I can get a bike soon, then I'll be heading there just cos !!! )

Turin is nice. Pop down to Lake Orta is you can. Very pretty.

[Noggin]

The missus puts honey in when she makes me a coffee.

I tend to use honey at home - but I do have a load of brown sugar cubes to use up, so alternating at the mo !!

Bicherin is another one you'd like. I've only ever seen it in Turin, but basically it's a shot of espresso, a shot of thick, bitter chocolate (albeit sweetened with sugar) and then a bloody great spoonful of proper whipped cream floating on top, served in a large cappuccino cup.

Kind of a 'heart attack in a cup' drink, but you'd die with a smile on yer face.

Next time I go there, I'll try to remember that!! (hoping that I can get a bike soon, then I'll be heading there just cos !!! )

Turin is nice. Pop down to Lake Orta is you can. Very pretty.

If I avoid the Frejus Tunnel to go to Turin it's almost five hours (going over the top of a mountain or two !!) - going on to Lake Orta makes it almost 8 hours So Turin would probably be an overnighter and Lake Orta a weekender !! LOL

Might just have to do the Tunnel

[ZRX61]

Oil change day on the F350, so far I've driven it onto the ramps...