Excellent. The recipe is one of several on the back of the bottle – as soon as I saw vermouth, I knew I had to make it. What a felicitous flavor combo. I think you will like it.

Oh yes, do get some seeds, or a plant. It is so easy to grow, and I bet you will find many ways to use it. It is especially complementary to mushrooms. In Italy it is very often used with porcini. The flavors are a perfect match. And thanks for the kind words about the photos. That one did not require too much set up!

Well, thank you so much. I just love Tiramisu – and my husband really goes nuts for it. I first made this recipe in the eighties, but it languished for years until I discovered Davidson’s Eggs. Now Bart is happy again.

You turned down the Punch! Oh no! You will love it once you do taste it, and Domenica has a great Ciambellone recipe that calls for it. Trust me, you’re going to love it. Thanks so much for stopping by. I really flattered that you visit my site.

I knew you would have the answer. Thank you!

Nepitella (calaminta) grows wild all over Italy, however as to the Roman nomenclature, I am in the dark. I grabbed my copy of The Oxford Companion to Italian Food by Gillian Riley and found the entry which follows.

“Calamint, calaminta, nepitella, Camamintha nepeta, one of the many Labitae is described as mentuccia in Sotti and Della Beffa (1989, p.48), which is confusing, since mentuccia as we know it is usually the name for Pennyroyal. This pungent herb is indeed similar to pennyroyal, and can be used in the same way. Apart from its affinity with artichokes, it is used in stuffings and marinades, and in Tuscany has been used for centuries as a medicinal herb, antispasmodic, tonic, and stimulant, with the power to calm gastric suffering and soothe upset nerves, as well as flavouring food and cordials.”

There are other names that are similar to mentuccia, and so this is pretty convoluted. Part of the wonder of this blogging life is learning. I enjoy a good question and research, and your inquiry has, as you can no doubt discern, gotten me going. I found The Oxford Companion’s response on the specifics of the name far from satisfying, and so I have messaged Elizabeth Minchilli of Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome, who will surely be the last word on the subject. I await her response. I love this. Thanks for stopping by The Front Burner.