I have arrived back in Brisbane to cool wet weather….no problem, it is nice to be home.
One of the things I love most about Italy is the delicious food. I will miss my cappuccino and apple sfoglia every morning, just a short walk across the bridge at Il Monaco, saltimbocca at Del Sonno and everything at Paris Boheme in Lucca.
However, one of the first things I love to do when I get home is head off to the markets at James Street and buy great things to cook. My first meal at home is always grilled Tasmanian ocean trout with roasted tomatoes and steamed vegetables.
I have lots of photos collected in my 5 months in Europe. Over the next few weeks I will sort them and share all the lovely places we visited on this trip. There will be more on Bagni di Lucca, Sardinia, Lucca, Florence, Amsterdam and some new things from Brisbane.
I hope you come along for the ride.
I want that meal NOW!! It is lunchtime here, my stomach is growling and that photo is doing me in!!!
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By: The Daily Cure on June 28, 2012
at 9:54 am
It was delicious!
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:05 pm
This meal looks gorgeous! “acquolina in bocca” :)))) hugs! Rose
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By: Mia Dolce Toscana on June 28, 2012
at 10:03 am
We have great produce here in Australia
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:06 pm
I meant Deb – great to have you back
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By: Liz Litzow on June 28, 2012
at 10:13 am
It’s nice to be back.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:06 pm
When I took a break from looking after Ma and Papa up on Buderim I’d always head straight for the sushi bar at the James Street market. If it was a nice day, I’d ;pick up some wine, and take my sushi to the park. If not, who cares – fresh sushi and sashimi as just such a treat! Such a treat, I’d usually pop in on the way back home, and pick up a box to go … Welcome home:)
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By: The Wanderlust Gene on June 28, 2012
at 10:31 am
James Street is a great place to shop, the food always looks so good.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:07 pm
It does, doesn’t it? Have a great time back home:)
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By: The Wanderlust Gene on June 29, 2012
at 4:28 am
Welcome Home! x
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By: Yvette on June 28, 2012
at 11:07 am
Thank you!
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:07 pm
Glad you had a safe trip home … enjoy!
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By: aFrankAngle on June 28, 2012
at 11:48 am
I will only be home for a couple of months so I will be making the most of my time here.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:08 pm
We miss you here, but very hot. Wendy and I are keeping busy!
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By: Cherry on June 28, 2012
at 12:41 pm
I am already missing Bagni di Lucca….but not the heat, give me this lovely cool weather any day.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:09 pm
Wow, judging by the looks of THAT meal you could hang out your own ‘shingle’. Trattoria Debbio, Osteria Australiano, Ristorante Ricco di Debra or simply ‘Qui si Mangia Bene’!! What a rich and full life you have. You make every minute count; a nice affirmation for the rest of us. A gift that you just keep on giving. Thanks!
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By: Caterina on June 28, 2012
at 12:52 pm
Perhaps I could turn Casa Debbio into a trattoria, that sounds like fun.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:10 pm
Hmmm, that’s sounds great. Splendour in the hills! And food too?? Wow, you go girl, nothing seems to stop you….well, except the rigmarole, Italian style. Trusting there’d be lots of hoops to jump through; but the thought and fantasy, the smells and the tastes…..hmmmm we just keep on dreaming!!
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By: Caterina on June 30, 2012
at 10:20 am
Hi Deb. My husband (Steve) and I love to travel. We have visited Italy a couple of times and really love it – especially the food!! It has been my dream to stay there for an extended period, even undertaking Italian at night for a couple of years before relocating to coastal South Australia. I initially googled properties for sale / renovation about 12 months ago, as an option to fund our extended stay and keep us occupied whilst there (as Steve is a stonemason, plastere, tiler etc etc) but really had no idea as to where. So tonight I was looking at extended renting instead, and a property came up in Bagni di Lucca, which resulted in me googling the town and finding your blog site. The town looks like somewhere I could live and be very happy. it is good to see there are plenty of Aussies following their dream to Italy. I will be very interested in keeping abreast of your blog and hopefully may be able to get there in 2013/14. Love your photos and they only pique my interest more. Will be in Brisbane (Bribie) for a couple of weeks next month. Hopefully the rain will have abated by then! Cheers, Claire.
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By: Claire on June 28, 2012
at 12:59 pm
Let me know when you are in Brisbane and perhaps we can meet and it can tell you all about Bagni di Lucca.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:11 pm
It would be great if we could catch up and get the gen on Bagni di Lucca and living in Italy in general. We fly to Brisbane / Bribie on 18 July staying in a private house, address unknown. However, we will be staying overnight in an airport hotel Sat 4 Aug as we have an early flight home on the 5th. If we could arrange a meet that would be fantastic.
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By: Claire on June 28, 2012
at 11:14 pm
My email address is debrakolkka@gmail.com Let me know where and when you would like to meet.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 11:21 pm
Thanks. I will email when further details are known to see what can be organised. Hope to catch up then.
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By: Claire on June 28, 2012
at 11:44 pm
Glad you made it home safely, and looking forward to reading more. Hope to see you next season in Lucca. Are you there in November?
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By: Our Kitchen Inventions on June 28, 2012
at 1:53 pm
I haven’t booked yet, but I am planning to go back in September to keep on with the house. Will you be there in early November?
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:12 pm
We go for Thanksgiving holiday each year, so typically in Florence for that, then to Lucca either before or after. What about you?
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By: Our Kitchen Inventions on June 30, 2012
at 4:10 pm
Great to hear that you arrived safely.
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By: mulino dominillo on June 28, 2012
at 1:57 pm
The trip home was long but uneventful….which is all we ask of long distance travel.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:12 pm
Glad you are home sweet home and being a trout lover, your meal looks scrumptious! I look forward to following your Springtravel photos, Debra.
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By: Karen Overton on June 28, 2012
at 3:03 pm
I have enough to last at least until I go back.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:13 pm
This looks so good, nothing beats the tomatoes in Italy-they are just simply the best!
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By: sani panini on June 28, 2012
at 4:52 pm
You are right, nothing beats Italian tomatoes, but these are Australian and pretty good too.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:13 pm
I’m sorry, I totally misread that and thought they were from Italy! However, still looks delish!
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By: sani panini on June 28, 2012
at 10:23 pm
Welcome home. Your food looks fabulous. Now I’m hungry! Any left-overs?
Hugs,
Kathy
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By: Kathryn McCullough on June 28, 2012
at 7:53 pm
I ate the left over tomatoes for breakfast.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:14 pm
Your meal looks delicious – and now I am feeling hungry! Welcome home.
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By: Just Add Attitude on June 28, 2012
at 9:47 pm
Thank you, it is good to be home for a while.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2012
at 10:14 pm
We really are following you everywhere Glad your trip was “uneventful.” That’s all we ask! No place like home, at least until it’s time to leave again! That meal looks delicous.
Enjoy your time at home and especially the cool weather.
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By: Diane on June 28, 2012
at 11:48 pm
The sun was out today for a perfect Brisbane winter day.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 29, 2012
at 6:39 am
It’s so nice to have little rituals that let you know you’re home! And your meal looks delicious, too🙂
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By: megtraveling on June 29, 2012
at 1:27 am
It is great to do all the things you miss when you get home.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 29, 2012
at 6:39 am
Those tomatoes look outrageously delicious! And the fish! 🙂
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By: thirdeyemom on June 29, 2012
at 2:26 am
I love oven roasted tomatoes!
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 29, 2012
at 6:40 am
Now that sounds good! I must admit I’ve never done it before! DO you just put olive oil on them and bake on high heat? Now is Minnesota tomato season and I’ve been buying them at the farm stands daily and loving them! Mmmm…..
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By: thirdeyemom on June 29, 2012
at 12:42 pm
I used the tiny vine ripened tomatoes, the size of cherry tomatoes. Just put a little bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and some garlic over the tomatoes and bake them in the oven, not too hot until they collapse a bit.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 29, 2012
at 2:57 pm
Debra, my first meal back in australia is usually a prawn dumpling noodle soup at Chinatown just behind Adelaide Central Market. It always hits the spot. Your trout looks wonderful though. Welcome home!
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By: mltucker on June 29, 2012
at 5:15 am
Thank you for the welcome home. Let me know when you are travelling to Italy again.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 29, 2012
at 6:40 am
Great to hear you are happy to be home, I will be home late in the year and cannot wait for some Aussie fresh summer food!!
Have a great weekend!
Carla x
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By: Carla Coulson on June 29, 2012
at 6:54 am
As much as I love Italian food, I love to come home to the different varieties of food we get here.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 29, 2012
at 2:58 pm
The best of both worlds, Home with good food and home away from home with good food AND gelato! wonderful.. c
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By: ceciliag on June 29, 2012
at 5:50 pm
I thought it was a fitting thing to eat on my last day in Italy.
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By: Debra Kolkka on June 29, 2012
at 11:49 pm
Bentornata Debra!! I wish I shared your enthusiasm I really do!!! I just got in myself a few hours ago….
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By: janinevasta on July 1, 2012
at 9:02 pm
Hi Deb, Welcome home….although from your posts I’m thinking Italy/Australia? which is really home now? Maybe your arrival in Brisbane has put a stop on all the wet weather we’ve been having! Could you see your way clear to get rid of the cold as well? Am on a day off today, and your photo of those delicious tomatoes sent me straight to the kitchen and I’ve now just eaten a fabulous breakfast of poached egg, roasted amoroso tomatoes with lemon, garlic and spiced avocado on thick toasted sourdough. Great inspiration…thanks. Bronwyn
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By: Bronwyn on July 1, 2012
at 11:16 pm
Home is Brisbane……for now. I love the weather here in winter, you’ll get no sympathy from me on that score.
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By: Debra Kolkka on July 2, 2012
at 6:34 am
Hi Debra sorry I didn’t ring you back we had people at an open inspection at the house and one lot came back and we have a contract so fingers crossed. We haven’t told anyone yet. There was so much happening that I can’t find where I wrote your number…mine is 32690200. There is a group here on fb called Queensland Bloggers and we are meeting up thurs next week if you’re interested. I’d love to catch up with you and all your adventures. sending love and welcome back to Brissie! x
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By: Lisa | Renovating Italy on July 2, 2012
at 10:00 am