A Demonstration & Tasting of the Art of Confectionery With 225 year old Genoese confectioners Pietro Romanego fu Stefano

Petersham Nurseries is delighted to announce a demonstration and tasting of the fragrant sugared creations of the more than two century old artisan confectioner Romanengo. Attendees of this rare workshop will sample exquisite sweets, syrups and candied fruits and a Romanengo-inspired menu of both savoury and sweet dishes from head chef Skye Gyngell.

Conserving fruits and flowers since the 1780’s, Romanengo unites the history of Genoa’s colonial port, the centre of sugar and spice trade, with the commitment of a family’s incredible inherited skill and artifice. Only the finest and most alluring ingredients are utilised to create their jewel-like precious confectionary – both a treasure to the eye and a delight to the palate. Their use of only ripe and seasonal fruits displays the shared ethos of Petersham Nurseries and sugary allure of Romanengo.

Several years ago Skye was instantly converted to Romanengo’s delectable ‘Sciroppo di Rose’ by the ‘intense burst of flavour- the cleanest, truest taste of a bouquet of roses imaginable’ and as a result it has long become a welcome part of Petersham’s summer menu in the guise of their signature aperitif the rose Bellini.

The event will commence with an introduction to the ancestry of Romanengo and the historical tradition of sweet making in Genoa. The workshop will focus upon the bewitching craftsmanship of Romanengo with a demonstration of icing candied fruits and the alchemy of sweets. This will be followed by a light two course lunch prepared by head chef Skye Gyngell and incorporating a selection of her favourites amongst these ambrosial products. The pleasure of the candid fruits and sweets, indulgent Marron creams, Mostarda di frutta with Fromaggio Capretta are just some of the delicious products destined to enthral the taste buds.

Details:
Date: Saturday 22nd May 2010
Time: 10.30am – 1pm
Tickets: £55.00 per person.
Reservations number 020 8605 3627.
Address: Church Lane, off Petersham Road, Petersham, Surrey, TW10 7AG.
Email: info@petershamnurseries.com
Website: http://www.petershamnurseries.com/

About Pietro Romanengo
Pietro Romanengo fu Stefano has been crafting candied fruits, chocolate, torrone and fruit jams for over two hundred years. They are made according to antique recipes using natural, rare and exotic ingredients. For centuries the sweets of choice to royalty, scientists and musicians all over Europe, the Romanengo products are still handmade with the same craftsmanship and care and are hand packaged in their traditional refined boxes. The best way to enter the special “Romanengo atmosphere” is to visit the historic shop of Via Soziglia, a small, well- kept secret jewel in the middle of Genoa’s Historic District. Everything is exactly as it was on their opening day in 1814. Among marble and valuable wood, you can taste and buy specialities like the orange flower- flavoured marron glaces, the pine-nut pralines, the mint and coffee rosolio drops, the candid violet petals, the Queen’s torrone, the rose petal syrup and hundreds of other confectionary treasures. In the store you can also ask to see a unique collection of antiques used during the centuries to create the “Romanengo Gifts”.
http://www.romanengo.com/

Background
Petersham Nurseries, owned by Gael & Francesco Boglione, is set at the foot of their home, Petersham House, at the base of Richmond Hill. To save this local nursery from the clutches of the circling developers and multinational garden centres, the garden-loving Bogliones bought the run-down business and in doing so reunited the original Petersham House estate, separated for over 30 years. After extensive restoration work was undertaken, it re-opened in 2004 utterly transformed; a magically, whimsical place in the most idyllic of surroundings.

Petersham Nurseries
Specialising in the English gardening tradition Petersham Nurseries is a tranquil oasis and seedbed of inspiration. With an ever growing emphasis on sustainable gardening, 2008 saw the launch of the Cutting Garden project, the Home Grown range of vegetables, herbs and salads and a blueprint for the ‘greening’ of the nurseries. The unique styling of the plants is complimented throughout the one acre site by garden antiques and original artefacts, carefully sourced from Britain, Europe, India and the Far East by the Bogliones and their buying team.

Facts
Petersham Nurseries is open 7 days a week.
Lunch is served Wednesday - Sunday from 12.30 pm to 3 pm. Reservations are essential.
Tea & cakes & home-made soup are served every day in the Tea House, Tuesday – Sunday. http://www.petershamnurseries.com/