Hot summer vibes + remedies for the heat 😎
Calabria Is Hot.
Calabria is currently experiencing a heatwave, thanks in large part to Scirocco, a (usually) warm wind that comes up from North Africa. So far this wind has brought a lot of dust, creating muggy days, making it feel even hotter. In the winter Scirocco brings sea tornados (!!!). The only escape from a hot scirocco summer day is:
A jump into the sea
A cold shower
Cold watermelon
Cold tomato salad (coming to you next month with lots of other tomatoey things!)
Inventory Update
The Turi is sold out. But the Lina is still in stock! An inventory update is coming next month : ) Giuseppe and I can’t thank you enough. Your preorders, memberships, and regular orders help us to scale and pay our vendors in Calabria upfront. Since September 2020 we’ve been working 100% (previously 80%) with small and/or family-owned businesses in Calabria, all within a 1-hour drive. As we plan for harvest 2021 we will keep this going!
Cool(-ish) Italian Food for 4th of July
It looks like it's going to be a very warm 4th of July. Here are some foods that may (or may not) keep you cool, but will be delicious.
1. Pasta al Pomodoro featuring the Lina
Red? Yes. Tomatoes in season? Yes. Recipe? Here.
2. Pasta Aglio e Olio featuring the Turi
White sauce. Garlic’s in season. Skip the Parmigiano if you want to make this vegan. Recipe here.
3. Seppie Fritte (Fried Cuttlefish)
You can sub cuttlefish for calamari and/or add in shrimp if desired. Yummy finger food for a group of people. Recipe here.
4. Suggestion: Mussels
Looking for something savory and blue? Try blue mussels.
Polyphenols!!
Listen, we’ve talked about polyphenols before. But as more and more brands start popping up acting like polyphenols are new (*flips hair*), we want to make sure you’re getting the correct info. In short, polyphenols are antioxidants. Read more about polyphenols' health benefits and the current obsession over them here.
We Have A Guest.
The wonderful Maria Zizka is here and she's spilling the beans on her Very Vert Lentils With Crispy Mustard Chicken from her new cookbook One-Bowl Meals! This recipe features: lentils, watercress, lemon juice, and plenty of extra virgin olive oil. Maria has kindly provided us with the full recipe which is available here.
Some Words On The Recipe
“My husband and I went on a cross-country road trip together years ago, and there was a stretch where it was very difficult to find fresh fruit or vegetables. I love diner burgers and fries, but after a few days of the same meal every meal, I was craving something green.
When we crossed the border into Colorado, I spotted a natural foods store. First thing I bought? A bunch of watercress. I ate it in the car, one leaf at a time, savoring the snappy freshness. My husband still teases me, but that watercress couldn’t have tasted any better! This watercress sauce recipe is a slightly more civilized way to enjoy the peppery leaves. It provides the perfect light and bright contrast to the crispy chicken in this dish.” - Maria Zizka. Full recipe here.
Press
The EXAU x Pineapple Collaborative has been featured in Hunker and Gear Patrol!
‘It's not every day you see competitors join forces but the Pineapple Collaborative x EXAU olive oil collab is one you don't want to miss.’ -Hunker
That's all for this week.
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A presto,
-Skyler & Giuseppe
www.EXAUoliveoil.com