Down on the Allotment

Matron grows vegetables and fruit in a Hampshire garden. I've been growing veggies since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Some traditional varieties and old favourites as well as new ideas. I share my garden with my allotment assistant Daisy the Labrador. On Twitter as @MatronsVeggies

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Rialto Market - Venice Part 2

In the centre of Venice there were just a few flower shops and a few seeds for sale. You can see just a small variety of lovely tomato seeds.
I love learning new things! In the Rialto market were these bunches of 'Bruscandoli' for sale everywhere. I couldn't quite imagine what they were until I just did a bit of research online. Bruscandoli are the new growing shoots of the hop vine. The 8" at the top of the vine, and these are the hop vines that make the hops used in beer making. This Bruscandoli is cut and sold in bunches in the market just for a few weeks in April. If you look closely at the photo above you might recognize a few of the small leaves. A very traditional Venetian dish is to make a risotto using these green shoots which are chopped into smaller lengths and added to the risotto. WOW! I have to try this! Matron is headed to her nearest hedgerow to find some of these and try it out!
Globe artichokes are sold in different ways in the Rialto market. Here they are sold trimmed and chopped, either using the very small globes 'carciofini', or cutting the hearts of the larger globes 'a la Romani'. It does seem like a waste to me, the leaves are trimmed by the stallholders and just discarded! They are displayed here in salt water to stop them spoiling.
The fish market in the Rialto is just a delight! So utterly, completely, totally fresh and shining. Just look at these amazing sole!
This is known as 'San Petre' or Saint Peter's fish. You can see the black spot on the side of the fish, this is supposed to be the thumb mark made by Saint Peter (the fisherman!). This type of fish is known here in the UK as a John Dory.
Venice is truly a beautiful city.
Beloved by artists and photographers... and foodie bloggers too!

5 Comments:

At 10:44 PM, Blogger Gardeningbren said...

Oh the tomato seeds...could you resist? Such fantastic varieties.

You are having a great time Matron. Thanks for posting while on holidays as I am enjoying the photos very much.

 
At 10:29 AM, Blogger Celia Hart said...

Did you buy tomato seeds? I can't believe that you didn't!

Thank you for the new word 'Bruscandoli', I always harvest out spare hop shoots (leaving 4 or 5 per pole to grow). They are delicious in an omellete, I'll have to try a Venetian style risotto :-)

Celia
x

 
At 10:46 PM, Blogger Rob said...

I have ordinary and golden hops and knew their tender shoots could be used as we use asparagus. But had never seen them. Thanks for the education!!!!

 
At 6:02 PM, Blogger For The Record - VVG's Sowing and Growing in 2012 said...

Ah Venice! Four years since I was there means time to go again methinks. I know I would have hoovered up lots of those tomato seeds.

 
At 10:58 AM, Anonymous Bubbagumps said...

Brings back fond memories (need to go again without children in tow!).

 

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