The new culinary journeys of the gastronaut Davide Paolini
“I confess that I ate” by Davide Paolini read by Tullio Fazzolari
Poor man's caviar is not the least expensive substitute found on supermarket shelves. The authentic one, prepared with the eggs of very small fish, can only be tasted in Calabria on the Ionian coasts. Just like the red aubergine is an exclusive specialty of the Monte Pollino area. These are just two of the innumerable gastronomic discoveries that are made by reading “I confess that I ate” by Davide Paolini (Giunti, 272 pages, 18 euros). It is certainly not the first time that Paolini, also known by the pseudonym Gastronauta, surprises with culinary revelations. Just remember books such as "The places of taste" or "The recipes of memory" which are a sort of reportage, the result of a wandering in search of originality and little known things.
But this time it's a little different. "I confess that I ate" was born and written in the most difficult days of the lockdown. That is when it is impossible for the Gastronaut to continue his wanderings. The "journey" that has always characterized his work is prohibited. But a profession and, above all, a passion are not confined to the walls of an apartment. The solution and, in some way, the possibility of escaping is an almost virtual journey that Paolini is able to do equally by opening by heart the archive of the things he has already seen.
There is no shortage of surprises. From the new navigation of the Gastronauta comes for example the exchange of couples. Which means pairing oysters with Lambrusco and a glass of champagne with a sandwich with mortadella. Certainly unusual combinations but, at least in the second case, even reported by one of the most prestigious champagne producers. Then it's easy to say oysters. When you go to buy them at the fish market, the best you can know is which sea they come from. But if you let yourself be guided by Paolini as far as Brittany, you discover that there are many different qualities such as the belon and the marennes and that each of these is then divided into categories according to its size. As for hamburgers, it is well known that they are eaten everywhere. But they don't taste the same and the one tasted in San Diego together with a bottle of Mexican beer remains unforgettable in the Gastronaut's memory.
Paolini's journey continues and, in addition to the curiosity for food, wine and liqueurs, there is one more contingent reason to follow him. In the days of the lockdown, when it was written "I confess that I ate", many people tried to escape discovering the charm of the stove. There were those who had never cooked even a fried egg and improvised as a pizza chef. Perhaps the results have not always been exciting but it is worth continuing because food is not only a means to survive but it is also or above all a bit of art and a bit of culture as the Gastronaut teaches.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/i-nuovi-viaggi-culinari-del-gastronauta-davide-paolini/ on Sat, 19 Feb 2022 08:55:55 +0000.