This week we have the first of two shows recorded in Lynne's beloved Emilia-Romagna. This is the region of Italy that Italians consider their culinary jewel, the land of prosciutto and Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Lynne takes us behind the scenes as no one else can—into balsamic attics and kitchens of legendary country restaurants. She takes us to a town where people still set a place at table for the composer Verdi and his music spills out into the street.
Lynne's Go-To Guide to Emilia-Romagna takes us from a salumeria in Parma to a barista in Bologna, stopping along the way for a pasta class and a visit with an eel fisherman. A Rustic Celebration Supper from the Hills of Parma and Piacenza features a menu and recipes for a casual celebration supper selected by Lynne.
Around 8:30 into the show, the subject turns to espresso, where the speaker laments the trouble she's had finding a good coffee in Italy. A friend confides the location of a reliable cafe where a barista of 17 years explains the keys to exceptional espresso. I heartedly agree with all his comments. Well, except his assertion that the barista must moderate tamp pressure depending on the humidity. An interesting show and a good explanation of what makes an espresso great and what's needed to make a great espresso.
