Food

Which tricks do you use to keep up with your culinary tradition while abroad?

How do you get hold of the ingredients you need?

Have you created substitutes and wish to share the idea?

Try finding good Mexican food outside of, well, Mexico, really... but here in Sardinia it's sort of a non-existent culinary treat (not counting the two very highly priced tex-mex-though-not-really eateries in Cagliari).

At least they sell flour tortillas! I make my own refried beans from canned bertoli beans; salsa is simple enough to make with tomatoes, onion, and lemon juice, and guacamole too. I use feta instead of queso fresco, and the odd times I have actually made something requiring corn tortillas homemade ones using polenta flour seems to do the trick. Though, these I usually buy when back home and then freeze. The only thing missing is soured cream- which I haven't been able to find a good substitue for yet. And jalapeno peppers (I usually just use a dash of red pepper), so green enchilada sauce is out too

And viola' all the basic ingredients for good Mexican food alla nuova sarda

It is iso true, in Italy and Sardinia in particular is very slow to provide "etnic" food".

so the best thing is finding substitutes.

For the sour cream the italian version is Panna cida which can be homemade (the day before for the day after) and there are a number of variation you can paly with:

- 2 dl of panna fresca (fresh cream not the panna da cucina) you add one spoon lemon juice, one spoon of yogurt, salt and leave at room temperature for one night, then refrigerate.
- mix yogurt and cream add salt and leave out to refrigerate

- mix buttermilk cream and yougurt with salt

...

you get the picture, creativity is the limit

Thanks Laura, I will play with the soured cream versions and see which one I like.

It is a start at least that you can get tortillas and chips at the market, though I don't recommend the guacamole in a jar. They had this when I lived in England too, and it's a questionable experience.

Perhaps I should start a real taco shop... hee hee

Life in Sardinia is interesting... apart from the fact that my job prospects are few to nil, the driving is crazy, I am living with my in-laws until our house is ready, and said lack of ethnic food, things are going okay.

My baby takes up most of my day, so at least I have her to focus on

Jessica

Previously Laura Schoff wrote:

It is iso true, in Italy and Sardinia in particular is very slow to provide "etnic" food".

so the best thing is finding substitutes.

For the sour cream the italian version is Panna cida which can be homemade (the day before for the day after) and there are a number of variation you can paly with:

- 2 dl of panna fresca (fresh cream not the panna da cucina) you add one spoon lemon juice, one spoon of yogurt, salt and leave at room temperature for one night, then refrigerate.
- mix yogurt and cream add salt and leave out to refrigerate

- mix buttermilk cream and yougurt with salt

...

you get the picture, creativity is the limit

If I am in a rush I simply use the greek yogurt with a bit of cream to smooth the texture.

Next I guess is ordering your stuff online... I am sure there are services in Italy that will offer that

apart from the lack of mexican food how is life in Sardinia?

bye
Laura

Hi Jessica,

I am planning to move to Sardinia, eventually.

At present we are in the process of building a house near Arzachena. Are there a lot of foreigners where you live?

I am sure that despite being italian, once back home it will be nice to keep up with the international community and it makes it easier if there are a variety of nationalities around.

bye for now

Patrizia

Hi Patrizia,

I am living in Cagliari, and while I am sure there are more of us around, so far I have only met a few English types who work at one of the language schools. Everyone I meet though knows someone who knows someone who is English, German, French, etc., so they must be hiding out somewhere. It would definitely be nice to have some kind of international community. My husband, who is Sardinian, and lived abroad for 5 years misses the international fibe too. Maybe it is up to us to create it

Yes, I think so.

Shall we get started? I know some foreigners too.

We should throw some idea on how to get the international community together. May be organizing a meeting in a bar to begin with?

Or by starting with a mailing list to keep people posted on useful info for foreigners (food, books, video etc.) .

If you wish to discuss it I can contact you.

I am all for it

Cheers

Patrizia