I’m currently marooned in the UK, down and out with Covid-19 which I picked up shortly after arriving here (thank you Boris Johnson); all of which is to say I’m afraid there will be no newsletter this week. One Italian story I would like to share though – very briefly before I hit the proverbial hay – concerns Fabio Picchi, the famous Florentine chef, who passed away last week after a long illness. He and I did not see eye-to-eye politically on the few occasions we met, but his impact on the perception of Tuscan cuisine is undeniable. If you speak Italian, his ‘food alphabet’ series on YouTube, made up of short one-minute clips on how to prepare some of his favourite ingredients, should absolutely be in your bookmark list. It’s hilarious, informative and utterly addictive. Otherwise, the Florentine has published an obituary in English detailing a few of his significant achievements from the founding of the iconic restaurant Cibrèo to the Teatro del Sale and more recent forays into Japanese fusion cuisine. So rest in peace Signor Picchi. And more from me next week once I’ve defeated this lurg.
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