|
|
 |
|
Kids
Europe Newsletter: Olives and Morra
Everyone
Can Sample the Olive Oil
|
May
2006
|
|
 |
|
In
This Issue
|
|
|
|
|
Quick
Links
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings:
|
|
|
Learn about olive oil tasting, something the
whole family can enjoy while in Italy. Practice
your Italian numbers while playing a wild and
crazy game from ancient times.
|
|
|
|
|
Parents
often enjoy tasting the wines of Italy, but
there is taste of Italy that everyone can
enjoy: olive oil! Learn a little about
olives and olive oil and add tasting this
healthful and flavorful product to your
enjoyment of Italy.
Olive
oil is a major product of Italy that produces
about 25% of the olive oil in the world. It is
very healthy, too, the best oil to consume,
adding to good cholesterol HDL and reducing
the bad LDL.
Italians
partake heartily of this delicious food,
consuming about 53 cups of olive oil per
person per year, while the average American
consumption is about 2.5 cups.
You
can taste olive oil anywhere you find it, of
course, and here is a li
nk to a page that provides a system for
tasting as well as much information about
olive oil.
To
taste olive oil, you can be very scientific:
pour a little in a glass, swirl it around,
warm it, sip it, etc. Or, you can simply
observe the color in the bottle, pour a little
in a saucer, smell it, dip in a piece of bread
and taste it as you eat the bread.
Tasting
olive oil can be as complicated as tasting
wine but it is possible that to simply enjoy
some good oil and to distinguish some of its
characteristics, so here are some general
taste categories to keep in mind.
- Mild and buttery -- These are subtle
oils, good for mild dishes such as a
simple fish or salad dressing. They tend
to be light golden-green.
- Fruity and spicy -- You can smell the
herbs in these green oils. They are
delicious with cooked vegetables and
seafood and are easy to love.
- Fruity and peppery --These will get your
attention with a long peppery finish.
Their assertive flavors are good
companions with sandwich fillings or as a
drizzle on garlicky dishes such as pastas
or grilled meats. They are often dark
green-gold.
- Full-bodied and earthy -- Like a big
wine, these are big olive oils. Rich
mouthfeel with a full flavor characterize
the golden oils.
|
|
|
|
|
|
While
you are in Italy, watch for Italians shouting numbers
and playing what looks like a very loud and lively
game of rock-paper-scissors. That's Morra, a game that
was played by the ancient Romans and is played
throughout Italy. As you can see in this
page, it has a long history and here you will also
find stories of life and death decisions made by games
of Morra. There are also some fun video clips of the
game being played in Spanish on
this page.
Basically,
two players simultaneously "throw," i.e.
show, some fingers and shout out a guess of the total
number of fingers showed by both players. A right
guess wins a point. The game is won when one player
reaches the predetermined number of points. This
page lays out the simple rules.
Here
is an online
game of two-finger Morra with the probabilities
and a strategy discussion. If you can read Italian
here is a
site in Italian that describes what looks like a
hundred versions of the game. Wikipedia
also offers a concise history and description of the
game.
Teach
a friend how to play Morra and play a game. Use this
as a chance to practice
your numbers in Italian. This link offers a page
with audio so you can hear how to pronounce them.
|
|
|
|
|
We
think a lot of this vacation apartment in Rome because
of its good value, good amenities, fine location and
the fact that it will sleep a family of six for just
$300/night (the price is lower with fewer people). The
location is in a favorite neighborhood, Prati, that is
all-Italian, not jammed with tourists, with great
shopping and near important sights such as the
Vatican, Castel Sant'Angelo and just across the Tiber,
easy walking distance, to Piazza del Popolo, Campo
de'Fiori and Piazza Navona.
There
is some availability for the summer left here and in
some other nice properties we have in Rome. So if you
still need accommodations, check out Tiberio
or send an email
and let us check for you.
My
sister photographed the neighborhood when she was here
several months ago. Take the photo
tour and enjoy our favorite shops; you can tell
she's a great shopper.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vacation
Rentals In Italy
|
|
Flaminio
Piazza Popolo, Rome
Sleeps 4+ 2
4
night minimum
Perfect
Family Apt
|
|
Villa Colle
Colle di Val d'Elsa
Tuscany
Sleeps 2+2/Apt
5
nights minimum
Great
Value
Walk
to Hill Town
|
|
Ponte Vecchio
Center
of Florence
Sleeps
2+ 2
1 bedroom, 1
bath
1
week minimum
Perfect
Value & Location for Small Family
|
Contessa
Venice,
btw Rialto - St Mark's
Sleeps 5
2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath
Real Noble Palace
|
|
Via Veneto
Rome
Sleeps
2 + 2
4
night minimum
Convenient
Location, Central & Comfortable
|
|
Borgo Bucine
Arezzo, Tuscany
Sleeps 2-7
Magical
Castle and
Vacation Village
|
|
Tiberio
Rome,
Prati by Sant'Angelo
Sleeps
4 + 2
4
night minimum
Location
and Value
for
a Family
|
|
Castello Niccolo
near
Florence on Chianti Estate
Sleeps 2 -12
Villas
& Apartments
Tuscan
Castle & Wine
|
|
Palazzo Santa Croce
Florence,
Santa Croce
Sleeps
2 - 8
16
apartments
Beautiful
Historic Palazzo
|
|
Palazzo Cavaliere
Florence,
Santa Croce
Sleeps
2 - 6
21
Apartments
4
night minimum
Central
& Convenient
|
Spagna Apartment
Spanish
Steps, Rome
Sleeps
5
Luxury
& Fabulous Terrace
|
|
