My time in Italy, especially in the less touristed region of Emilia Romagna gave me a new appreciation of the basics of food - of salt, fat, acid and time. It is the food belt of Italy and from where most of the best known food exports come from - Proscuitto di Parma and Parmigianno Reggiano cheese.

Living in Reggio Emilia, which, actually is a the micro region from where both of these originally hail (but were affiliated to Parma because Reggio was attached to manor seat at Parma), I obviously indulged in both those every week! But, more than either, today’s Reggio has a different dish as their cultural beacon - Erbazzone - a humble and little known (outside the region) tart that is made with the best of the region!

Oh I fell head first in love with the Erbazzone. Addiction is what I would call it.