Hello, it's 6:36pm on a Friday afternoon as I write this. Pier and Francesca are sound asleep on the big bed, while I stretch out on the sofa.
I thought I'd make the most of this solo time and take you with me for a bit of shopping.
Come with me as I hunt for good spices, stumble upon some cute ceramic finds at the weekly market, drool over my favourite art shop and pop at my in-laws for lunch - all in the span of a hot summer morning.
Every Wednesday and Friday it's market day in Mestre. The stalls wrap around the main piazza like a sprawling beehive. A bustling affair, for sure.
With cheaper prices than regular shops and - more often than not - better stuff, too.
I've got a few errands to run this morning. My first stop is Caberlotto: an old school drogheria selling candies, liquors, spices, preserves and what not.
Oh, the joy of stepping into candyland...
Spices and chewy treats galore 🥹
Four different spices per drawer.
Top-notch rice from Piedmont (a small 200g tin for about €10... definitely for a special risotto).
A jar of artichokes, Ligurian style (preserved in evo oil, with taggiasche olives).
Black olives - baked.
And my purchase: 50 gr each of Sumac and Za'atar (5.25 total).
I read somewhere that sumac is often called the vinegar spice because of its tartness. In Veneto, and especially in Venice, we love a splash of white wine vinegar. It shows up everywhere: with beans, onions, salads... but also in sweet and sour dishes like saor (my recipe here).
Thank you, and good bye!
And now out in the heat again. I walk across the market and stop to browse local produce. The large tomatoes come from the sandy fields of Cavallino, in the northern lagoon.
I get distracted by a ceramic stall selling beautiful pieces and knick knacks. These cute pastel-coloured frames were made in the town of Bassano del Grappa, not far from Venice. A favourite place of mine ❤️
This one comes home with me.
And this one, too!
A few steps later, I try to pop in a cute vintage shop. Alas, it's already closed for lunch.
And finally, I arrive at Alessandra's organic bulk shop @superbeans. Time to stock up on seriously good vanilla powder. They also carry natural wines from Vigne Salse - a small producer whose vines grow on salty, lagoon soil. Recommended.
Next door: this fabulous art and antique shop. Sadly, closed for lunch. But I took a few photos for you anyway!
Vintage Murano glass goblets. They always display a nice selection here.
Stunning pieces with gold leaf. I wonder how much that 12-piece set by Cenedese costs. Drooling.
Rushing now. It's almost 1pm, I'm dehydrated, hungry and I need to pick up Francesca from the nonni.
Love spotting old bicycles.
Finally! Lunch at the in-laws: Friselle topped with juicy tomato salad. Friselle is a type of dried bread from Puglia - shaped like bagels and sold halved. You soak them in water to soften (they're hard as rocks) then top with a salad of ripe tomatoes. Wait as long as you can so the bread soaks up all the tomato juice and olive oil.
Milky white feta cheese. Cool and briny.
Showing nonno Marcello my Madagascar Vanilla. We're both impressed by its lovely scent.
Finishing lunch with my father-in-law’s home made kombucha. Beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
And then it's time to head home for a nap with my baby.
Thank you for coming along ❤️
Hi Sinù!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting my shop last week, wait for some good recipes with the Vanilla you just bought!
Hope to see you soon again,
Alessandra
Super Bean
Hi Alessandra, thanks for your comment and for your lovely shop that I adore :) I can't wait to put the vanilla to good use! See you soon 👋
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