Good morning lovely people,
We’ve had a few days off. Rome, Picinisco, all the way down to Caserta and it got me thinking - are we tourists or visitors? At one stage I would have said I was a pilgrim in Rome, maybe our new Pope Leo IV will help align my spiritual side. In Caserta we were working. Taste testing magical Mozzarella di Bufala DOP and stunning stracciatella. The things we do for all of you ☺️. We’re hopeful the Brexit change to trade between Europe and the UK will allow us to get these products to Scotland one day faster and with less administrative costs. We’ll keep you posted. We came home with less of a sun tan than the team so not sure who looks like they had a holiday? The weather in Edinburgh has been stunning. In Italy, thunder and rain storms. Lots of family cuddles for us which bring its own sunshine. The “trapping tourists” conversation came up. Something we’ve always stayed away from abroad and at home.
We visited a lovely traditional restaurant in Gaeta. Fabulous fresh fish, something you shouldn't have to hunt to try and find along that coast. Not a typical tourist trap menu, especially when they only have it in Italian, or don’t have a menu at all until you ask. Day one, olive oil was the usual glass jar filled with something nondescript. Not bad enough to stop us going back. Day two, once Victor had charmed them, we were upgraded to a bottle of labelled extra virgin oil. When I started reading Turkish I even surprised myself. We’d driven past tens of thousands of olive trees, the town is surrounded by this fundamental food. Where was the instinct, pride, passion or even consciousness to allow their visitors to taste the very best of what is local, seasonal and abundant. If we go back for a third time we’ll have that conversation. I suspect the answer would be “Well, it’s just for the tourists”.
Last week Edinburgh was named as the most expensive major city break destination in Western Europe by Post Office Travel Money. Hotels have the highest cost. New short term let legislation being blamed for this increased demand on hotel rooms. I’ve had no objection to the legislation, I know many have. Providing safe, compliant sleeping accommodation should be part of any business plan that generates income from accommodation. According to National Statistics house prices in Edinburgh were up 5.9% from March 2024. Any increase in supply that was supposed to be coming from the redundant AirB&B market hasn’t flooded the market and brought prices down. Another very interesting debate for another time. What we can all agree on is Edinburgh really is a highly valued city.
Back to food, we want to think of our tourists as visitors to our beautiful city. As if they are visitors to our home. Sharing the best of what we have seasonally and part of our heritage which as you know is being Italian Scots. We need to appeal to all budgets but not compromising values. Quality doesn't have to be the most expensive. Food tourism doesn’t need to be second quality or a trap. Somehow Scotland coined the expression tartan tat. Tartan, a world class unique artisan heritage fabric. No tat please and no tourist traps. Just visitors, you're all welcome.
Keep well and enjoy the last of the sun, I believe it’s heading to Italy next week.
Carina
PS The Oliveto is looking beautiful but we’ve a new visitor. No money for fencing this year so they might be enjoying the olives before we can.
