(08-10-2020, 09:04 AM)Gointocarlton link Wrote:Two of best mates parents are from south of Trieste, a town called Pola (called Pula now as it belongs to Croatia). I was in Trieste very briefly in January this year, gorgeous place. One day I intend to spend alot more time holidaying in that neck of the woods. The Triestini, as do most Northern Italians, sure as hell love their grappa. Lets just say my mates have continued their parents traditions. My old man was from Umbria so wine and salumi were more his go. I have continued with that along with my wifes Calabrian influences.

Can I just say, this non footy talk certainly provides a different slant or insight on people's backgrounds. When the discussion is all footy, footy, Carlton, Carlton, I actually forget I'm dealing with humans from a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds and experiences. Love it.

(08-10-2020, 10:43 AM)ElwoodBlues1 link Wrote:My late mother in laws family are originally Croatian, of course the boundaries all changed after WW2 and Trieste became part of Italy and its relevance as a Seaport declined but its very untouched and the locals are very loyal Triestini that hate change. Her late Father was from Tuscany but my wife identifies more with her mothers family.
We were due a trip as part of my retirement this year to Italy but Covid19 stuffed that up, glad you made it over in January and enjoyed your time.
re: Grappa.....bit too strong for yours truly especially the home made variety, nearly took my head off the 1st time and that was just inhaling the fumes. The Triestini like their own dialects and enjoy singing....after a few grappas they sing and I sleep....then they give me Coffee which has me buzzing all night its that strong. ?

(08-10-2020, 10:43 AM)ElwoodBlues1 link Wrote:My late mother in laws family are originally Croatian, of course the boundaries all changed after WW2 and Trieste became part of Italy and its relevance as a Seaport declined but its very untouched and the locals are very loyal Triestini that hate change. Her late Father was from Tuscany but my wife identifies more with her mothers family.
We were due a trip as part of my retirement this year to Italy but Covid19 stuffed that up, glad you made it over in January and enjoyed your time.
re: Grappa.....bit too strong for yours truly especially the home made variety, nearly took my head off the 1st time and that was just inhaling the fumes. The Triestini like their own dialects and enjoy singing....after a few grappas they sing and I sleep....then they give me Coffee which has me buzzing all night its that strong. ?

(08-10-2020, 11:08 AM)Baggers link Wrote:Loving these stories and officially jealous reading all these exotic food stories - I've always had a love of Greek and Italian food but that developed after I left home. Going to school at Franganistan lunch time was ham, cheese and tomato rolls/sangers or a maggot bag with sauce. Followed by a snot block or jam doughnut and that was it. Home was typical Aussie tucker... 3 veg and meat. Yep, dullsville.

Fortunately I was introduced as a youngster to some amazing exotic food by my paternal grandfather. When we visited him in Sydney (Lane Cover) he'd put on an amazing spread for everyone. Amazing cook and an artist by trade who did landscape designs to make money. He was Danish and holy mackerel, when he dished up a feast it was really something - rollmops, pickled/smoked this, that and the other thing, raw meats, far out pastries but the weirdest thing I ever saw was the variety of cheeses. My grandfather loved this cheese that fair dinkum moved about on the plate... he'd pick pieces off it and squeeze the cheese out of it with his fingers straight into his mouth, what was 'it'... special maggots! Yep, big maggots that would eat the cheese then you'd squeeze the cheese out of the maggot and eat it, a delicacy apparently. All of this was followed by everyone over 12 having to skaal (scull) 3 successive shots of aquavit schnapps... first time I had alcohol (aged 14). I had my 3 shots... nothing for a few seconds, then someone held a blowtorch to my chest... then I stood up and fell over. That stuff is just about 50% alcohol by volume...

(08-10-2020, 11:08 AM)Baggers link Wrote:Loving these stories and officially jealous reading all these exotic food stories - I've always had a love of Greek and Italian food but that developed after I left home. Going to school at Franganistan lunch time was ham, cheese and tomato rolls/sangers or a maggot bag with sauce. Followed by a snot block or jam doughnut and that was it. Home was typical Aussie tucker... 3 veg and meat. Yep, dullsville.

Fortunately I was introduced as a youngster to some amazing exotic food by my paternal grandfather. When we visited him in Sydney (Lane Cover) he'd put on an amazing spread for everyone. Amazing cook and an artist by trade who did landscape designs to make money. He was Danish and holy mackerel, when he dished up a feast it was really something - rollmops, pickled/smoked this, that and the other thing, raw meats, far out pastries but the weirdest thing I ever saw was the variety of cheeses. My grandfather loved this cheese that fair dinkum moved about on the plate... he'd pick pieces off it and squeeze the cheese out of it with his fingers straight into his mouth, what was 'it'... special maggots! Yep, big maggots that would eat the cheese then you'd squeeze the cheese out of the maggot and eat it, a delicacy apparently. All of this was followed by everyone over 12 having to skaal (scull) 3 successive shots of aquavit schnapps... first time I had alcohol (aged 14). I had my 3 shots... nothing for a few seconds, then someone held a blowtorch to my chest... then I stood up and fell over. That stuff is just about 50% alcohol by volume...

(08-10-2020, 11:39 AM)Gointocarlton link Wrote:Talking about the old days, I was talking to the kids about my childhood lunch at schools. Here's me at Primary School in the 70s  with half a split vienna bread with some sort of salumi in it, Italian cheese, lettuce, olives, the whole hog. After years of being taunted about my woggy lunches by the Aussies, they were eventually smart enough to realise it was the ducks guts. They  would come up to me asking me if I wanted to swap lunches, I'd always look at their lunches and say "no thanks". ;D
This is another true story, my wife and her twin sister went to a Primary School just down the street from their house. Her loopy Nonna used to go there at lunch time, call them over from the fence, whip out the caffettiera (Italian perculator) and two espresso cups from under the cardigan and give them coffee. Dead set fact.

(08-10-2020, 11:33 AM)ElwoodBlues1 link Wrote:Yep, I'm from English/German/Irish roots and it was meat and 3 veg plus a Roast every Sunday with homemade Apple Pie/Crumble and cream

(08-10-2020, 12:09 PM)capcom link Wrote:Then World of Sport, (loved the woodchop) a short snooze, the VFA with hopefully a brawl and all's good with planet earth.

(08-10-2020, 12:22 PM)Gointocarlton link Wrote:Sundays? World Championship Wrestling and then Epic Theatre in my household. TV belonged to the Old Man on Sundays.