A Gothic Romance - Nero di Seppia con Gamberetti


Although not musically - I refuse to put The Cure, The Smiths, Echo and The Bunnymen, Bauhaus in the same musical category as Sisters of Mercy, The Mission, Fields of the Nephilim which I do like very much as well as London After Midnight - I confess I have a certain penchant for the gothic subculture. I guess I have a penchant for my vision of what is and what isn't gothic, though.


I like the idea of doom and gloom that surrounds gothic culture, I like the all black ensembles, I like the very heavy eye make up and the pale, pale skin, I like the sadness and the melancholy around it, as I am so prone to it. I like the vampire thing, the Victorian, thing, the Medieval thing as well. The overly romantic "I shall die of a broken heart" thing. The passion of it all, though silent, though only shown through piercing looks directed at the recipient of one's feelings.


I love the clothing - oh, how I love the clothing - if it's lace and velvet and long skirts and leather and long hair and cleavages and sensuality that is only just seen. I love the idea of those renaissance looking dresses, those victorian gowns. Think Interview With The Vampire attire, I went through a phase where I did dress like that when I went out at night. Think the dress code on Viona Iegelem's beautiful art, think her Noble Blood balls and you have my dream goth world all laid out for you.


I don't know what it is that appeals to me in all this iconography, but it sure does, and even though I do not go around dressed in long velvet skirts trailing after me, nor ball gowns covered in black lace, I still find myself gravitating towards things that bring home that feeling, those images. I still find the artwork for Cradle of Filth's The Principle of Evil Made Flesh and Dusk and Her Embrace the most beautiful things ever! I still get goosebumps just perusing those images. It's that vampire thing, I'm sure, I just don't know why.


So it's no wonder that once in a while I find myself thinking about gothic like food. What would look good, were I to throw a goth inspired dinner party, you know? What should I serve? I aready have the cocktails covered, but I find myself wondering about what dishes to serve, what entrées, what mains, and what dessert. So sometimes, I do browse around and bring home silly stuff, just to pretend I'm doing goth-y food. Like squid ink. Like "cabidela" - a typical portuguese dish that involves a healthy quantity of chicken blood - like "papas de sarrabulho" - again, typical portuguese fare and lots of blood! This time, I went for 'Nero di Seppia' pasta...


I had been wanting to try this pasta for ages, although this is simply spaghetti that has squid ink to turn it black, but hey! go figure how my obsessions work and then please let me know - if it brings along an explanation o my obsessio with Zach McGowan and Ville Valo, please feel free! I knew I wanted to keep everything rather simple, intense flavours, yes, but very clean, very fresh, where every ingredient could shine on it's own. First thought was shrimp, then chillies - gotta have dried chillies with my shrimp! - and garlic. Loads of garlic. For someone who claims to be obsessed with vampires I sure like to keep the poor guys away... so if you would like to try my Nero di Seppia con  Gamberetti, here's the recipe.


  • 250 gr spaghetti nero di seppia
  • 300 gr frozen prawns
  • a handful of olives
  • two dried chillies
  • one onion
  • four garlic cloves
  • dill - a scatter
  • lemon juice or white wine
  • olive oil, salt and basil
Start by bringing some water to the boil, remember to salt it well, and once it's grugling away, place your spaghetti inside and let it cook according to package instructions, once it's done strain and reserve. Chop your onion and garlic and gently fry them in olive oil. Add the chillies, cut into strips, seeds and all! Now add your prawns and allow to cook for a couple of minutes. Season with the salt and the dill and refresh with a few drops of lemon juice - or white wine, whichever suits your fancy. Right before the prawns are thouroughly cooked - and remember never to overcook prawns, unless you like eating paper! - add a few basil leaves and the olives. Finally, add the pasta to this and mix well. Finish off with a scatter of fresh basil before your serve, and enjoy. A chilled white wine goes wonders with this!



Comments

  1. Love it!!!

    http://loveskitchen-mycooking.blogspot.pt/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Minha linda,
    Cá eu, sou gadgets e livros de culinária.
    Lá vai o tempo do fashion, maquilhagem e lingerie (pela qual era louquinha), agora, empato o dinheiro todo em cozinha, lol.
    Olha, adoro nero di seppia e esta combinação é das mais perfeitas que existem!!
    Um beijinho,
    Lia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ai eu já não gasto dinheiro em nada, lol, que não o tenho!! Mas quando preciso de comprar roupa, sei que ou são calças pretas de pele ou de ganga e blusas estilo victoriano, ou casacos de veludo, ou botas de atacadores, enfim, gravita tudo nessa onda. Mas já lá vai o tempo em que gastava belas maquias nessas coisas. Mais depressa me vês numa adega a comprar umas belas garrafas de vinho que numa Zara. Só se safam mesmo são os livros do Stephen King, se tenho de escolher entre qualquer coisa e um livro dele... não há como não trazer o dele ahahahaha!!

      Delete
  3. Também gosto muito do vibe melancólico do gótico :3
    já fiz essa massa e ficou tão, blheeec! Errei nos ingredientes todos, só pode...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh é pena, eu adorei o sabor, nunca tinha provado.

      Delete
  4. está extraordinariamnete apetecível e com um aspeto bestial!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment