pâtissier Martino Neglia on the boundaries of the beloved dessert
pâtissier Martino Neglia on the limits of a beloved dessert
Just four words: Italian artisan ice cream. Instant summer feeling. Martino Neglia, pastry chef at five-star resort Masseria Torre Coccaro in Apulia in southern Italy, knows his guests’ craving for the true gelato, but still cooks up surprises. This season’s signature dessert is ice cream made of local white bread resting on chocolate cake crumb 'soil' and white chocolate mousse, topped with garden vegetables, citrus fruit and a dash of vanilla-flavoured olive oil.
Here, this inventive dessert master reveals what makes gelato so dreamy.
Bread ice cream and vegetables – what inspired this treat?
It was rather improvisation than inspiration: I was going to feature fresh produce from the garden of Coccaro, so I experimented a little and asked my colleagues, "What do you like best with fresh vegetables?" Bread was most popular. So the idea of bread ice cream came about.
Which ice cream trends do you currently see in Italy?
There’s no arguing about taste, so preferences are varying. In my opinion, there are no real trends with ice cream. Its continuous development by cooks and ice cream makers around the world is what keeps it successful. Classics like chocolate, nut or pistachio will always be up to date. The quality of ingredients keeps improving, though.
The thrill of the racetrack in the comfort of your home
The thrill of the racetrack in the comfort of your home
The TL1 seeks to do this this in several ways. The two-metre, 180-degree wraparound screen (technically, three separate screens) immerses the player in his chosen environment, providing a single high-resolution image, while the seat can also be adjusted according to your virtual vehicle, ranging from touring cars to Formula 1 cars or even a fighter jet.
Sotheby's and Christie's to auction precious jewels in Geneva
Sotheby's and Christie's to auction precious jewels in Geneva
With a number of high-profile jewellery auctions, including a couple of sales for charitable causes, and with highlights such as The Beau Sancy and a variety of potential USD 5 million diamond rings, a series of sales mean there is only one place to head for this week: Geneva.
Switzerland’s second city sees experts from Sotheby’s and Christie’s descend early this week with the aim of picking out some gems amongst a series of auctions that are literally packed with them.
Heading the Christie’s 'Jewels for Hope' sale (May 14th, 8 pm), otherwise known as the collection of Mrs Lily Safra, is a ring with a rectangular-cut diamond that weighs in at 34.05 carats. An accompanying expert report asserts that the diamond “may be potentially internally flawless”, hence its spectacular pre-sale estimate of between USD 3.5 and USD 5 million. Just as alluring are a pair of diamond earrings and a ruby and diamond Chaumet ring, both of which could fetch USD 3-5 million.
Plumes And Dials
Harry Winston Premier Feather Watches
While often beautiful, feathers may not typically be considered a luxury material. However, anything can be elevated to precious when in the hands of an artist. Highly uncommon these days, feather marquetry is a historic craft where feathers are cut and carefully arranged to produce attractive patterns and displays. This is exactly how each of the Harry Winston Premier Feather watch dials are produced. By nature, no two are exactly the same.
Yacht chef Charles Blacker on cooking on the open seas
Yacht chef Charles Blacker on cooking on the open seas
It might not be a position in a Michelin-honoured restaurant, but it's a chance to travel the world and explore the world's culinary bounty. For four months, British chef Charles Blacker has been serving up gourmet meals on board 45-meter motor yacht Big Fish, and doing so with a creativity and passion worthy of any renowned restaurant – an admirable feat considering how much more difficult to it is to get high-quality, fresh ingredients while navigating on the high seas. Yet from his well-equipped galley, Blacker is able to conjure stunning and delicious dishes for every meal.
Here, the seasoned chef talks about the challenges and rewards of manning a floating kitchen.
As a chef on board a yacht, you cook for the owners and their guests. How do you cater to their tastes while maintaining a creative edge?
My theory is to ask: "what don’t you like?" It is not about "what do you like?", because I can do whatever with the products I have. Everything. You get the best out of any chef if you tell them what you don’t like.
And [I also consider]: what is the best thing around at the moment? If I need to have XYZ, I have to get it from so and so place, which is going to take a little while. It is not going to be the best when it gets here, but I still try to do the best that I can with it. That is the unfortunate thing about yachting, but that’s the way it is.
It is about using the products from [the port of call] as best you can. My signature thing when I was a chef at home was British food. But I strongly believe in local areas – to use whatever is in season, doing the best I can with it.
Medieval Castello de Scerpena in Tuscany for sale
Medieval Castello de Scerpena in Tuscany for sale
With its rotund, medieval-looking tower and artisanal stonework, Castello de Scerpena is as wonderful to behold as is the countryside that surrounds it.
This castle is located in the Tuscan province of Grosseto (on Italy’s ‘knee’, to give a rough idea), around 30 minutes from the coastal national park Riserva Naturale Laguna di Orbetello di Ponente, and around 20 minutes from the inland national park Riserva Naturale Selva del Lamone. More pertinent for those who like to combine a love of the countryside with that of urban centres, it is around 200 kilometres from both Florence and the capital, Rome.
To complete the picture, Castello de Scerpena is 10 minutes from the centuries-old countryside town of Manciano, the place where groceries and other necessities would be acquired, should the castle become your new residence. Up for sale for EUR 16.5 million, Castello de Scerpena is situated on its own hillside eyrie, with marvellous views across a canopy of greenery, not forgetting the property’s landscaped gardens below.
de GRISOGONO's Ocean collection pays homage to marine life
de GRISOGONO's Ocean collection pays homage to marine life
As anyone who ever had the infectious tune from Disney's The Little Mermaid stuck in their head knows, "It's better down where it's wetter, under the sea". But although the film heroine Ariel's underwater clamshell bikini outfit was quite fetching, it was definitely under-accessorised. Now, fashion-conscious underwater enthusiasts can pay homage to marine life without compromising on style, thanks to the new Ocean collection by Swiss jeweller de GRISOGONO.
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