After a week of surprise sunshine Mrs C wasn’t keen on going out to eat.
In fact, I’m now convinced that too much sun makes her rather grumpy.
Though we did manage a breakfast at Muddy Beach in Penryn which cheered her up.
“I thought you enjoyed eating in the sunshine.” I say.
“I do, but it’s different in Greece or Italy," she says, stuffing a forkful of eggs benedict into her mouth.
For once I tend to agree, eating out abroad is a far more relaxed and leisurely affair, and the service feels effortless. Here in Britain we are just not used to eating al fresco – and the warm weather never lasts long enough.
“What about I make a pasta tonight?” I say.
Mrs C looks up and yawns in my face. “If you want to – I can help you in the kitchen if you like.”
The thought of Mrs C slouching round the kitchen and grunting while I prepare the food fills me with dread, so I refuse her offer.
“It’s fine darling, I can manage. You get some rest.” I say.
The last time we were in Rome I ordered gnocchi in a tiny restaurant at the foot of the legendary Spanish Steps. It was here I fell in love with these versatile little potato dumplings.
Cut a courgette in half and chop into 1cm chunks.
Halve some baby plum tomatoes. Heat a pan and adds some pine nuts and toast till brown then set aside. Fry the courgettes in oil with salt until browned (4-5mins). Then add your tomatoes with a pinch of sugar and cook until softened (4 mins).
In another pan fry the gnocchi in a drizzle of oil on a medium heat until it starts to go crispy (8-10 mins). Add your tomatoes and courgettes to the gnocchi pan plus 60g of red pesto and stir. Finish with the pine nuts and serve with crème fresh and basil leaves.
I served this on the terrace, just as the sun was beginning to set. It wasn’t quite Rome but it somehow felt right. Mrs C lazily raised an empty glass towards me and I dutifully refilled it with Prosecco.
“Here’s to you, my little princess,” I said, clinking glasses. “And what do you think of the gnocchi?”
She looks up at me with a sleepy smile. “It’s not quite as good as that one we had in Rome…”
Bon apetito, Mrs C!
Follow Tony Cowell on Twitter: @cowelltweets
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