Co-incidence # 1 in life: 'Delizia' Epic History of Italian Food ...

 

Italian food … what's not to like?! - but its history ... now that's an interesting subject …

John DIckie's book

I have two goddaughters – one is 'real', while t'other is 'her twin' – my brother's niece … born on the same day – the year I got back from South Africa – early 1990s.

The honorary goddaughter has recently become engaged and they seem to be spending (short break) time in Italy … so I thought a book on the History of Italian Food for them might be a good idea – which'd also interest me – I can read it before I hand it over!

This is an American film, but
looked a fun run in the kitchen

'Delizia' {The Epic History of Italians and their Food (2007)} by John Dickie looked to be a good choice – however when it arrived it appeared to be of American origin … and I prefer a British outtake (rightly or wrongly!) …

But John Dickie is, as it happens, of British origin – an author, historian and academic, who specialises in Italy. Perfect … except for the mis-spellings throughout the book.

Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci

Anyway forgetting that … I've been watching Stanley Tucci's 'Searching for Italy' on the BBC (originally CNN) … and who did he meet up with in this last programme – yes, you guessed it – but John Dickie – Professor of Italian Studies at University College London. Co-incidence # 1 ….

I had no idea who Stanley Tucci was (bad me!) until I saw the film 'Supernova (2020)' in which he starred with Colin Firth – a very British film … and now I know who Stanley Tucci is …

I think I'll give you co-incidence # 2 next time … it's way off any link I can think of (yes, even me!) … other than 'co-incidence' …

Coat of Arms of the
Order of the Humble Ones

So feast your thoughts on some early ideas of living in Italy way back when … such as you're Bonvesin de ala Riva (c 1240 – c 1313) … a lay well-to-do member of the Ordine degli Umiliati (literally “Order of the Humble Ones”) …

He lived in the marvelliosa city of Milan, waxing lyrical over it while believing it to be 'exalted among cities' … the ideal medieval earthly city – abundantly supplied with meats, poultry … also fish … yet it is the local fruits and vegetables that feed Bonsevin's civic patriotism.

Agricultural Calendar c 1740

Interesting man as you can see from the descriptions above – who, as was the custom in medieval Milan, slept with all his household in one same large (? ginormous) bed … his wife and children, apprentices and servants …

Great Bed of Ware

Thank goodness I have my own bed now – though appreciate many don't!

Back to feasts … I won't go into the how and why … but Dickie mentions Osso Buco – one of my own very early offerings – when I could get the meat (bone with a hole – where the delizia marrow can be found) from Oxford market – a place I miss to this day after 55+ years.

Osso Buco served with risotto

Right I'm off the memories of early days when I loved to entertain – trying all kinds of delicious dishes … so my honorary goddaughter will be getting this 'historio libro Italiano' (I'm sure this is not correct!) … for Christmas …

So that's that for this post … dream Italian food – similar to the one written two years ago for WEP about a tree house restaurant …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

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Clunch … a soft stone building material …

 

I'd never come across Totternhoe Clunch before … so I needed to find out exactly what it was …

Totternhoe Quarry

The connection came from Berwick Church, where we find the Bloomsbury Group murals … which have recently been repaired, conserved and restored to last for at least another 100+ years …

… my WEP Narcissus post was a 'Hilary - creative by-product' of learning more about the restoration of these wall paintings …

The Chancel - murals painted by the
Bloomsbury Group

… the Bloomsbury Group included Virginia Woolf – who I think you might have heard about … her sister Vanessa Bell and other members lived nearby … hence the artistic connection ...

Berwick, East Sussex church

I have family connections in the area … and so am always interested to hear what's going on over at the Church.

The new porch being built

At the moment having restored, repaired and ensured the Church can 'survive in good order' well into the 22^nd century … they are now building an outer porch, to form an air-lock between the interior of the church, and the great outdoors.

Berwick Church has applied for and been given money from the Heritage Lottery Fund – so the conservation and repair works need to conform to, and comply with, best practice …

Our iconic white cliffs - this area is very often
used in films, tv programmes and commercials

Along the south coast of England we have this geological band of chalk – as you'll know 'The White Cliffs of Dover', or here, near Eastbourne, … the iconic cottages above Cuckmere Haven …

Whether Clunch was excavated here in the last 2,000 years or so (it probably was – but flint-stone was more important) we'll never know … but the recorded Totternhoe Clunch is to be found just north-west of London …

Totternhoe Castle mound
(Norman period 11th century)

I looked at Totternhoe Castle mound and thought – that looks like Dunstable Downs – where I briefly took some gliding lessons – off those chalk downs – many, many moons ago – small connections of this world.

Gliding down to the runway

… both the Romans and Normans used this soft limestone, as it's easier to work … in more recent times 1700s!! - it has been used in Woburn Abbey.

There's a really fascinating information site from Stone Specialist about the stone called 'Totternhoe Clunch' … amazing history about the area and 'clunch' …

Woburn Abbey

The approved builders for Berwick Church, under the auspices of English Heritage, have sourced this particular stone as meeting the standards required.

Wider angle showing further mural artwork
by the Bloomsbury group - painted during WW2

I suspect that you'll be getting another post using the information I've gleaned from the Stone Specialist …

As described - the light green
depicts chalk.  Beachy Head
is very near where I live.

So as I've been rather engrossed in other subjects – here's a post to tide me over, til I need to write a letter for WEP next week (see the side bar) …

Life is interesting to put it mildly … and recently it has had its odd moments – even today I nearly got off the beaten path again …

So I'd better get on and introduce you to 'clunch' – a new word to me … but more fascinating to learn about its history and present day usage …

Looking across the South Downs at Lewes,
c/o John Wallace

Here's to Totternhoe Clunch! Have happy weekends …

There's an excellent book on the Bloomsbury group at the Church ....  “Even more may be gained, from Peter Blee’s scholarly, perceptive, and beautifully produced account of The Bloomsbury Group in Berwick Church.

Hilary Melton-Butcher

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Belarus Free Theatre – the exiled theatre group …

 

One member of our History group, where we're finding out about the 1900s Russian Revolutionary period, was very excited about going to see 'Dogs of Europe' – put on by the Belarus Free Theatre ...

The image on the Barbican website for the play

She obviously was overwhelmed … and I haven't had a chance to sit down and actually chat to her – she handed me a flyer that was in the theatre …

Set out in summary form below …

Subject: A blogger, designer from Minsk.

Date of Birth – April 18^th, 1985

DETAINED 19.05.2021

S E N T E N C E

Art. 342 of the Criminal Code - violation of public order

Art.391 CC (Insulting a Judge)

Art. 188 CC (Libel)

P R I S O N

Tokarchuk Olga Andreevna

Prison No. 8.222163, Zhodino,

Sovietskaya str., 22A

Background:

OLGA was detained several times after the 2020 elections. On May 19, the apartment where she lives with her husband and two minor children was searched. At that time, she was already in the status of a suspect under Articles 391 of the Criminal Code, and Aritcle 188 of the Criminal Code. After the last detention Olga was charged with a new Charge under Article 342 of the Criminal Code.

Her prison details c/o Dissidentby link

Here's the link to the Dogs of Europe play … with further details from the director on how the play came about …

I quote from 'Sir Tom Stoppard':

You can be sure of one thing - Belarus Free Theatre are the good guys.

For seventeen years the company has been chased around, persecuted, arrested, exiled, spied on and slandered by the Lukashenko regime, always in danger and impoverished, and during all that time it has made theatre driven by the death of freedom in Belarus.

Today the last dictator in Europe is paying his dues to Putin, and BFT is once again on stage to remind us what is at stake.

Nikolai Khalezin, Artistic Director, Belarus Free Theatre … notes that if we look for parallels in art then Dogs of Europe reflects his life …

… the book is an adaptation of Alhierd Bacharevic’s mammoth novel set in a dystopic Europe of 2049. (c/o the Editorial note in the website).

… In the book published in 2017, most of Asia has fallen under a secret-service dominated Russian “reich”, while an ever more fragmented western Europe grapples with a refugee crisis.

The title seems to recall W H Auden’s poem on the death of Yeats: “In the nightmare of the dark / All the dogs of Europe bark / And the living nations wait / Each sequestered in its hate.”  (Part III 2nd verse)

I hope you will get a chance to look at the Barbican website – where further details are available … about the Free Theatre Belarus Editorial Section …

The Monster Cockroach -
see the reference to Lukashenko

It is ever more horrific – the book and play provide greater insight into what life is like in a Soviet state … especially for those who abhor and activate for freedom of life (political liberty) in their own country.

I just had to post about this theatre group …

Peace to Ukraine,

and I hope no interference from Belarus … yet fawning Lukashenko worryingly worships Putin.

Another link to read about: 

Dangerous Acts Starring the Unstable Elements of Belarus

The Dissidents' site about Olga Andreevna Tokarchuk's imprisonment details.

Hilary Melton-Butcher

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