One from the Land this Time...

I am definitely a sea-faring kind of person.  I grew up on the beach.  And I basically traded one beach (Laguna) for another when moving to Italy.  I eat lots of fish, and I mean lots (remember husband's in the fish business).  But there is a very special dish here in Liguria that I absolutely love...and it has nothing to do with the sea or fish for that matter.  It's a hearty, belly filling delight called Panigacci, which comes from Lunigiana, the valley extending inland along the border between Liguria and Tuscany.  It was believed to have been the food of the nomads as early as the Roman Empire.  

Balls of dough are laid in a small, terra cotta dish known as “testine” and stacked one on top of the other in order to flatten the dough. Then they are placed over hot coals (or in a piazza oven) and what emerges is flat, firm, almost pita looking bread. Panigacci is usually served with stracchino cheese (similar to cream cheese), pesto or nut sauce and cold cuts and of course some local red wine!

If you are ever in or around Southern Liguria, I highly recommend a trip up to Podenzana, the little village where Panigacci is served in abundance at many "panigaccerie" or even in Aulla at my personal favorite, Da Pasquino (and where these photos were taken).  E fantastico!