Sunday, May 15, 2011

Positano and Acqua Pazza

In April, we spent a weekend in the seaside town of Positano on Italy's Amalfi Coast. This charming, colorful town is still peaceful in the early Spring before the temperatures rise and sun worshippers descend upon it by the time Summer hits.

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John Steinbeck wrote an essay about Positano in 1953 and I think he says it best, "Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone."

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We spent the weekend playing with rocks on the beach and watching the town awaken from winter's repose. Roman followed the one small delivery truck around on the beachfront as it delivered seafood to all the restaurants.

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We ate our fish grilled or in Acqua Pazza, (literally "crazy water") a simple Neapolitan way of preparing fish. I recreated the dish when we got home so our thoughts could linger in Positano a little longer.

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On another note, today is the one year anniversary of this blog so I thought I'd introduce myself a bit better if you've been following me. You may have seen photos of Roman on the blog as he's grown from 8 months to his present 19 months. Aside from documenting our second year in Rome, part of the fun of this blog is that it has been a collaboration. I cook and set up for the photos and my husband shoots them. He is rewarded for his time in good meals. We'll soon be leaving Italy but the blog will continue as we explore new vistas. Hope you'll stick around to see what we create.

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Pesce all'Acqua Pazza

You can use any fish you like for this recipe, whole or in filet. I used Mediterranean sea bass.
I have chosen to list the ingredients without quantities for this recipe because you are entirely free to add as much or as little as you want, and make it to your taste.

Olive oil
Garlic
(Optional onion, carrot, celery)
Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half
White wine
Water
(Optional anchovy and/or capers)

Sauté the chopped garlic in olive oil and add the cherry tomato and other vegetables if using as well as an anchovy (optional) and let it dissolve with the vegetables. Add white wine and water, place your fish in the sauce, cover the pan and cook until the fish is done. At this point, remove the fish to a platter and continue to simmer the sauce uncovered to reduce it. Pour the sauce over the fish and serve. Crusty bread works well for mopping up the sauce.

11 comments:

  1. You're so pretty! I really, really would love to visit Italy. Your photos make me want to come more than ever.

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  2. Happy One Year!!!! So exciting! What beautiful photos and that is certainly a place I MUST visit! Nice to get to know you a bit more too! I can't wait to see what you have in store for us this next year!!!

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  3. aaaaaah je veux y aller aussi ça à l'air trop beau !

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  4. Happy blogiversary, Nicole! i have come to really love your posts. And its marvelous that you share your travels and foods from my home-country. I often get home-sick (in a good way) reading your posts! You look lovely and I know we would be good friends, would we live closer. Positano is forever in my heart. I grew up in Sorrento and we would spend many a week-ends there, in summer and winter. Personally, I prefer it in winter and off-season, when it is all for "me"! Acqua pazza is also one of my favorite ways to eat fresh caught fish from the Med. Ciao!!!

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  5. Happy One Year Blogaversary! What beautiful photos of a place I have never had the pleasure to visit, one I have only heard wonderful things about. And isn't life all about the adventure? We, too, hope to be moving soon just to follow a dream. Will look forward to seeing where life takes you!

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  6. Honestly Good Food- Thank you!!!!! You are too sweet. You really should visit Italy, it's a fantastic place to vacation (if you catch my drift....)

    Design Wine and Dine- If you come to Italy, Positano is a must! So many small trips to make from there too by boat!

    Amelia: Who knows, DC and Virginia aren't that far away, maybe we'll meet up somehow! Isn't it fun how connections come about!

    Jamie- (the good parts of life) are all about adventure :) I'm anxious to hear where you end up too!!

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  7. Happy 1st anniversary for your blog, which I enjoy reading every new post of. I will of course follow you wherever you go. Beautiful picture of you and Roman, nice to get to know you better!

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  8. Yaaay, it worked. I have tried to leave you posts so often, inspired by your stories and then they wouldn't appear. I have now figured out I have to click onto your blog directly from my blogger reading list.

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  9. Nicole, Happy Blogiversary! It's been a year huh?
    It has been a pleasure following your adventures in Italy and I'll be looking forward to your new adventures wherever you end up next.

    That first photograph is so beautiful. I have visited Italy numerous times but never Positano.
    It's also wonderful to see your face next to Roman's. You are so cute together :)

    I didn't know your husband took the photos. He's talented.

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  10. Fiona, Thanks, it's nice to have you :)
    I'm not sure why but Blogger gets really wacky sometimes when I try to leave comments too.

    Magda, I've been meaning to pick up his camera and try to learn but it's too high tech (and too heavy!) and plus I think he likes being involved in the blog. :) I'm lucky to have him!

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  11. Adorable baby; I have made fish in acqua pazza recently but did not know it came from Naples.

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