Hello, fellow book lovers and foodies! Welcome to another edition of my virtual book club, where we explore different cuisines and cultures through books and recipes. This week, we traveled through the chapter on Sardinia in The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100 by Dan Buettner, a Mediterranean island that is home to some of the oldest and healthiest people on the planet.
Sardinia is one of the five Blue Zones, the regions of the world where people live the longest and healthiest lives. According to Buettner, the Sardinians have a unique combination of factors that contribute to their longevity, such as their strong sense of community, their consumption of local and seasonal foods, their moderate intake of wine, and their use of herbs and spices. The chapter on Sardinia is full of fascinating stories and anecdotes that illustrate the Sardinian lifestyle and diet, such as the story of a 102-year-old man who still rides his bike every day, or the story of a 107-year-old woman who attributes her longevity to eating cheese and drinking red wine.
The recipe that we chose to try from the Sardinian chapter was the Porcini Mushroom Risotto, a creamy and savory dish that is perfect for a cozy and comforting meal. The main ingredients are porcini mushrooms, arborio rice, onion, garlic, and parsley. The recipe is simple and easy to follow, but it requires some patience and attention, as you have to stir the rice constantly.
We made some minor modifications to the recipe, such as adding more cheese and butter to make the risotto more rich and creamy, and to help it stick together better. We served the risotto with a green salad, some a ribeye to share, and a glass of red wine.
We also faced some challenges and difficulties, such as finding the porcini mushrooms, which are not very common or cheap in our area, or following the instructions, which were sometimes vague or unclear. We also had some disagreements or debates about some of the claims or arguments that the author made, such as the role of genetics or environment in longevity, or the validity of the Blue Zones concept. We tried to respect each other’s opinions and perspectives, and to learn from each other’s experiences and insights.
In conclusion, we had a wonderful time cooking and reading from the Blue Zones cookbook, and we learned a lot about the Sardinian culture and cuisine. We highly recommend this book and this recipe to anyone who is interested in living longer and happier, or who simply loves good food and good books. If you want to join our virtual book club, please leave a comment below or send me a message. If you have tried the recipe or the book, please share your thoughts and feedback with us. And if you liked this post, please share it with your friends and family. Thank you for reading, and see you at the next book club meeting!
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