Smoked Trout and Carpione Polenta Pizza: I Heart Como

After living in Zurich for the past 18 months, we finally decided to see what the fuss is about with Lake Como. You see, everyone raves about Lake Como. It’s the perfect weekend break from Zurich (only 3 hours by train), amazingly picturesque train ride through the Alps, the impossibly regal named villages (Bellagio, Menaggio, Cernobbio), and the offensively humongous lakeside villas (including the one that belongs to George Clooney, of course).

Carciofi alla Romana (Roman Stuffed Artichokes) - Seasonal Eating

Artichokes from Oerlikon Markt

Cooking with in-season vegetables is a pretty easy and cheap way to practice sustainable eating. It minimises the emissions generated from transporting these vegetables from far away farms. Plus, you keep your local farmers happy and it’s a good opportunity to put on your experimental masterchef hat.

Unlike in Australia where we could generally get vegetables at any time of the year for pretty cheap, eating seasonally is anyway something that Europeans have already been doing for a very long time. I guess when the climate is harsher you’re left with no choice but to be resourceful!

Osso Bucco & Risotto alla Milanese : A mini weekend in Milan

Day time tourist
Italian police patrolling in possibly the cutest and most non-threatening uniform in the world (top-left);
the majestic Duomo di Milano (top-right); Galleria Vittoria Emmanuele arcade (bottom left); the iron-and-glass dome covering the shopping arcade (bottom right)

Milan. The capital of high fashion, birthplace of the biggest fashion houses (Prada, Gucci, D&G, Valentino, Versace, Missoni), where people are so immaculately dressed with not one hair out of place, and Ferraris/Lamborghinis/Masserattis roam the streets like there is no tomorrow. I've always wanted to go there but being on a student budget, I have always cast off Milan as one of those places I said I'll only visit when we are at least back on a payroll. But fortunately, last weekend, we had the opportunity to hang out in Milan with some family and definitely made the best out of it!