Sarah Ahmed – The Wine Detective

For five years, my pasta machine has been gathering dust.  Yesterday it was granted a reprieve from the ignominy of eBay since this careless lady owner at last got her head around making pasta thanks to Ursula Ferrigno.  

Ferrigno is a passionate Italian cook, food writer and educator and, in conjunction with Loire specialist RSJ restaurant, runs a series of Sunday Italian lunches at which guests are invited to get stuck in and help. 

On her Cook with us website, Ferrigno promises you’ll leave “with the desire to rush into the kitchen and cook.”  As they say the proof is in the pudding, or pasta as the case may be…I bought my pasta ingredients on the way home and tis on tonight’s menu!

Here’s yesterday’s  ‘Roman Holiday’ menu together with a couple of wine tips:

Fig & rocket bruschetta

Freshly made pasta with broad beans, asparagus, mint and peas – excellent of course and worked really well with the delightfully fresh Domaine du Clos Roussely Touraine Sauvignon 2010 (currently on offer retail at £7.95 – I’m buying a case – see here).

Sea bass with Gaeta olives, cherry tomatoes and fennel - a fab match with the tightly concentrated, mineral and pure Domaine des Roches Neuves L’Insolite Saumur Blanc 2009 (very reasonably priced at £27.95 I might add).

Roasted Roman pepper salad

Chocolate truffle ice cream

Pecorino Romano cheese with apricots

The next lunch is on 14 August and you’ll find details here.  All menus are pescatarian so they’re a great find for fellow non-meaters.