KP+: Jordon's Pesto di Cavolo Nero
Plus our Liguria travel itinerary, tips & maps!
Hello hello,
I hope all is well in your world. As always, thank you for being here!
SO, my friends, I come bearing travel treasures. Last week I went on a food research trip to Liguria, the north coast of Italy. Known as the Italian Riviera (apparently? I had actually not known this before embarking on this trip), it’s a dramatic coastline that boasts famous cities and towns like Portofino, Genoa and the dramatic Cinque Terre, a series of 5 mountainous villages that Wes Anderson would be proud to have created. Thanks to Richard the Lionheart who (embarrassingly) STOLE Genoa’s flag back in the 12th century, you’ll probably be tickled by seeing all the “St George Cross” flags everywhere.
The entire trip was inspired by an email I received from Nina, a KP+ subscriber (thank you!!!), and it was so exciting to embed myself into the coast for a few days and just fully submit to eating everything I saw. Although the trip was relatively short - just Thursday to Sunday, I have returned with SO many ideas.
From the best pumpkin tortas, to apple cakes, to grissini to - obviously - focaccia, I cannot wait to share and develop recipes based on the region. However, I do very much want to encourage you to take your own pastry and food research trips, so I figured I should share my itinerary and some practical advice too.
Surprisingly, Liguria seems to be one of the less well travelled parts of Italy (just purely based on where my friends have been!) but I really had the best time so highly recommend it.
At the end of this newsletter, the outrageously talented Jordon King, one of my travelling companions, will be sharing a recipe for a decidedly wintery Pesto inspired by our travels - such a treat:
Alright, let’s talk intinerary. Our trip went like this:
Day 1: Fly to Genoa then train East to La Spezia. Portovenere for the afternoon & a quick aperitivo, then back to La Spezia for supper
Day 2: Train to Santa Margherita Ligure and overnight stay
Day 3: Train to Imperia, west of Genoa, via Recco, home of Focaccia di Recco. Dinner in Porto Mauirizo
Day 4: Day in Genoa. Fly home.