I mentioned acqua e menta in my post about Summer Drinks in Italy (were you paying attention?) – a thirst quenching, very simple drink you can make at home or order in a bar. Most of the time it’s made by adding a bottled mint-green syrup to water or poured over ice, then adding water.
If you want a more natural, non-Hulk-green version, try making a quasi-mojito without the liquor – muddle some mint lives with some sugar and add in the lime if you need it.
This Venetian glass was a gift from friends that I think can make the simplest acqua e menta look amazing. Don’t you think? (If it gets as hot as it’s getting here in Milan, you too may become obssessed with the heat, the fading afternoon sun and the lovely light it throws around your house like me)
If you are interested in Venetian glass, be sure not to miss the episode 12 of the Eye on Italy podcast where we talked about 11 million pieces of fake Venetian glass being seized.
Gorgeous photo! I love Murano glass. It’s one of the reasons I’m personally addicted to Venice, I try to go often while I’m still living here in Italy! I’ll have to try an aqua e menta this summer too.
Sounds very refreshing…and yes that is the perfect glass.
I had that in Ferrara last summer. I was doubtful when my friends told me it was just mint and water. I kind of thought there was something lost in the translation, but like you say it really is very nice and refreshing.
It’s what we drink during rehearsals for our concerts…it really does the trick on these hot days…
My kids love this – and what a lovely photo of it!
I’ve spent a good half hour browsing the pics and articles on your site. Off to Florence tomorrow from the UK and your site has whetted my appetite for some serious eating. Good work!
: )
Riz
I just discovered you through those other Italy-based ladies I stalk (NYC/Caribbean Ragazza and Bleeding Espresso) and have been trawling though the archives (I’m working my notice in a very dull office). I’m amused to see that the acqua e menta gets another mention after your post years ago about the creme de menthe experience. Ah, creme de menthe brings back some less than pleasant adolescent drinking memories for me too. Anyway, I’m very much enjoying your three and four year old entries and am a little amused at the mentions of Twitter and Moo as new technology. How quickly time passes. Girl Geek Dinners sound fabulous. Though I am not in technology myself, I am always curious about new ideas and it’s great to learn about new female entrepreneurs. Perhaps when my Italian progresses past ‘remedial child’ level I’ll be brave enough to partake.
But anyway, I have all of 2008 and 2009 to peruse! I hope to find out how you started to get writing and photography gigs.
I love that glass! it’s has all the colors that remind you of summer.
p.s I was reading about the sea urchins post. Very interesting to learn about them.