Story and Photos By Harald Zoschke Calabria is not only the southernmost tip of the Italian boot, it is also one of the hotbeds of European chilehead culture. So it’s no wonder that — besides plenty of “hot” dishes and products — a peperoncino museum opened doors here in the summer of 2002. It claims to be the only one …
Calabria, Part 1: Diamante, A Jewel for Chile Lovers
Story and Photos by Harald Zoschke Calabria occupies the “boot tip” of the Italian peninsula south of Naples. The warm Mediterranean Sea that flows around Italy’s southern tip between Calabria and Sicily, as well as 300 estimated sunshine days per year, determine the mild climate that lets chile peppers prosper here. The hot pods – called peperoncini in Italy – …
Peperoncino Festival 2006, Part 2 of 2
By Harald Zoschke … and even more Chile Peppers Pods of all sorts of varieties were also available from Miceli, a nursery from the town of Scalea, just north of Diamante. Their talented staff also created wonderful chile bouquets, showing off the potential of ornamental peppers. The pepper twigs were assembled in florist’s foam. Viva Habanero! Besides countless …
Tasty Travel: Germany, Austria & Switzerland in One Day
By Harald Zoschke Spring 2005. OK, a Bavarian was voted the new Pope. But rather than driving to Rome and receive our blessings, my wife Renateand I preferred to invite the “Pope of Peppers” and bring him to Bavaria, complete with “Popesse” Mary Jane. After picking up ourfriends at the Franz Joseph Strauss Airport, we brought them to Munich right …
Peperoni di Senise, Tasty Treasure from Italy
Story and Photos by Harald Zoschke We already reported in detail about Calabria, the secret European Chiliheadquarters. Just north of Calabria, in the Basilicata region, we discovered another tasty treasure: “Peperoni di Senise”. Just like “Champagne” sparkling wine or “Roquefort” cheese, this special kind of pepper enjoys origin protection issued by the European Union, so the rest of the …