25 ways to wear a scarf

Come home, Mona Lisa!

Again Louvre refuses to exhibit the most famous painting in Italy, Uffizi  Gallery. http://www.english.rfi.fr/node/97439
The last time Italy had seen Mona Lisa was exactly 100 years ago, in 1911, thanks to great Italian patriot and a thief Vincenzo Peruggia. It was the only time the painting was stolen, and so simple - Vincenzo was a carpenter and Louvre employee, he entered during the work hours, hided in the closed, took the painting, hided it under his coat and left. Like this! He was a patriot and thought that Mona Lisa should be in Italy, exhibited in Italian museum. He was caught 2 years later, trying to sell it to the directors of Uffizi Gallery, Florence (by other version - to the Florentine antique dealer Alfredo Geri). Mona Lisa made a tour around Italian museums and came back to France and Vincenzo went to jail. But only for 6 months, judge kind of felt for the guy and, actually, so do I. I wish Mona Lisa was here, at the end of the day she's Italian.

Read if you interested Monalisamania
Top 25 crimes of the XX century

Granita! GRA-NEE-TAH!

The best summer sweet-treat is created here, in Italy and it calls Granita. It's basically the ice-flakes with your favorite flavor. Which one is it? Coffee? Lemon? Strawberries? Mix of the fruits? You can create any without special tools like ice-cream maker or what-so-ever. The things you will need is measure cup, large, shallow pan and a freezer. Easy-busy!
Here is some classical recipes

Strawberry granita

1 cup hot water
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups sliced hulled strawberries (1 pound whole berries) plus additional berries for garnish

Stir first 3 ingredients in small bowl until sugar dissolves. Blend 3 cups strawberries in processor until smooth. Add sugar syrup and blend until combined.
Pour mixture into 13x9x2-inch nonstick metal baking pan. Freeze until icy around edges, about 25 minutes. Using fork, stir icy portions into middle of pan. Freeze until mixture is frozen, stirring edges into center every 20 to 30 minutes, about 1 1/2 hours. Using fork, scrape granita into flaky crystals. Cover tightly and freeze. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep frozen.) Scrape granita into bowls. Garnish with berries and serve.

Espresso Granita

2 cups hot espresso or very strong coffee
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
Bittersweet chocolate shavings

Stir espresso, 1/2 cup sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Pour into a 9 x 9 x 2" metal baking pan. Freeze for 1 hour. Stir, mashing any frozen parts with the back of a fork. Cover; freeze until firm, about 2 hours. Using a fork, scrape granita vigorously to form icy flakes. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover tightly with foil; keep frozen. Give it a quick scrape before serving.

Beat cream and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in a large bowl until peaks form. Divide granita among bowls or glasses. Top with whipped cream and garnish with chocolate shavings.

Just-right recipes are from http://www.epicurious.com/

Special days

Well, I will not write about my special days, it's Rome we are talking about now. Living in UK or US, or Russia, you probably will expect restaurants and shops open 7 days a week and without a lunch-break. Not in Italy! Let's see:
Sunday - Domenica - is a great holiday every week, all local shops and most of the non-touristic part of the center will be closed.
Monday will shut down local restaurants and bars, as well as small shops.
Tuesday is very special as well - fresh fish arrives to the shops and supermarkets.
Thursday - after 1 pm most of the local shops will be closed (don't ask me why)
Friday - fresh fish arrives again (so, you can buy it Tue-Wed and Fri-Sat only)
Is it already special enough? Next time I'll tell you about working hours :)Not so simple there either!

Caron

You know, that in big zoo they collect empty perfume bottles to give to the big cats. To keep them mentally occupied. Some sort of thing it is for me as well. I just can't pass the profumeria without entering and giving a sniff to smth. So, automatically I know almost all new perfumes on market. Unfortunately, the tendency is frightening, almost all new arrivals are chemical, boring and boring one more time. And thanks to IFRA, old ones are getting redone or canceled. Now it is old classics - Caron Roses - Or et Noir, Infini, Bellodgia, Rose, Pour un Femme. Sad. I will definitely try to find and stock Bellodgia and Infini in extrait, they worth it.

Blogging

It's a weird thing about blogging: when you write a lot - you always have ideas for new post, sometimes a lot of them, but when you drop it somehow - after a bit you mind is blank, like a piece of paper, you steering to the monitor and don't know what to do. Anyway, I'm back and promise to write.

Italian hand gestures

If you are getting ready to visit Italy - watch this and prepare. If you don't  - watch this just because it's fun!