La dolce vita!

I am just sitting on the hotel balcony overlooking the beautiful bay of Sorrento in Italy. The people, the sights, the shops and the food have all been amazing. Whilst there is always an abundance of fresh fish and some meat on the menu, there is also a good choice of vegetarian food and the waiters are eager to provide whatever you may wish for. Grilled vegetables, pastas, pizzas and salads are made with the freshest of ingredients and taste delicious.

One of my favourite dishes (of all time) is a Caprese salad made with sliced mozzarella (made locally here in Sorrento), tomatoes and basil with a seasoning of salt and a drizzle of olive oil. The red, white and green are the colours of the Italian flag and look wonderful served on a plain white plate. To wash this down I enjoy a glass of rose - in Sorrento Lacrima Christi!

Back at home in the UK we have Italian restaurants on every high street. Once, whilst enjoying a girls weekend in York, a dear friend asked the waiter for a mozzarella and beef tomato salad. When he brought her dish she asked where the beef was!! How we laughed and have re-told the tale many times. It's quite ironic given that we vegetarians normally are given meat or fish as a garnish when we don't want it; an anchovy here and some chorizo there, especially abroad. It would seem that no one can ever win!