Italian feast

In my suitcase back from Italy I brought several edible treats including one kilo parmagiano reggianno and one bag of Sicilian lentils. What I didn't do was save space in my bag for presents for friends. So I committed myself to use the foodstuffs I bought for myself to cook up dinners for my friends. I vowed to spread the love and tonight I got to make good on that promise for the first time.

Did I mention that my oil shipment arrived from Lorenzo last week?

Purva and David came over and I cooked up:

• this easy fennel/sausage/lentil dish I love
• a simple salad dressed with Lorenzo's oil, lemon juice and Maldon salt
• a bowl of Calabro ricotta drizzled with the oil and covered in toasted pine nuts
• a bowl full of cubed parmiagiano reggianno (oh lordy)
• a loaf of ciabatta from Grandaisy bakery
• a bowl of oil
• a bowl of Maldon

And it was very very good. It bears repeating: if the ingredients are amazing, you don't have to do much to eat like a king.