When Life Gives You Lemons!

“When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Limoncello!”

our guide Sonia

lemons and oranges for sale inside the Giardini di Cataldo

How can one not adore lemons?
They are like liquid sunshine.

a slice of the famous lemons from Sorrento, notice the thick, but edible, pith

On my trip to Naples we were also lucky enough to be able to
visit a limoncello producer.

Salvatore Esposito has a fabulous story.

His family has cared for the I Giardini di Cataldo, since the 1800’s.

Entrance to the Gardens

The Gardens now belong to the city.
When the gardens were private property, his family cared for them.
When the last owner died,Achille Lauro, leaving the gardens to the city,
his family maintained the rights to maintain and use the gardens
and the lemons and oranges grown there.

From the I Giardini di Cataldo site; Cataldo in the citrus groves

Salvatore named the gardens after his father, Cataldo, who took the citrus orchards to a new level, grafting the lemons to orange trees to increase production.

You may taste and purchase his products right there in the shade of the trees
or in Rome , P.zza Risorgimento, 11

We visited his workshop and then did tastings in the garden.

He produces Lemon Liquer ( he won’t call it limoncello) as well as Orange, Wild Fennel, Walnut (Nocillo),
a fabulous Licorice flavored liquore made using the wonderful Licorice from Calabria and
also sells jars of lovely tiny Baba al Limoncello.

After we all went for gelato at his shop right in front of the entrance to the gardens.
What could have been more perfect?

There is a constant war going on as to where Limoncello began,

Capri, Amalfi or Sorrento.

Each has their own fabulous lemons,each a little different.

But call it limoncello, limoncino, lemoncello or liquore al limone.

The most important part of the recipe
is the lemon!

The lemons here are HUGE, so when a recipe calls for 5 lemons
you may need 10 smaller ones to get the same essence.

If you would like to make your own limoncello,
I have written a lovely little step-by-step book
which is illustrated by my friend Angie.

To order just email me!

divinacucina-at-gmail.com

Cost is $5 plus shipping

Don’t forget to stop by and check out this weeks recipe from Barb in Umbria
for La Buona Cucina Americana

for Cole Slaw, a perfect summer salad now that summer has arrived!