For centuries in Siena, Italy, citizens of that city have held a horse race, now run every summer on July 2 and August 16, in the Piazza del Campo, an oval piazza in the center of town. Each neighborhood of the city sponsors their own horse and has their own colorful banner. It is widely popular, and participants sing neighborhood fight songs, and curse competing neighborhoods, as well as wave the banners of their own neighborhood. Eventually they will end up being worn as scarves around the reveler’s neck during the race and at neighborhood celebrations. When a rival approached someone from another neighborhood, they squirt each other with squirt guns and may insult each other’s mother—all very Italian and all to great laughter and fun.
Caprice Crisps
The first time we made the trip to the Palio in Siena, Italy, many summers ago, I was so impressed by the spectacle that I wanted to bring the experience home. I like to show the horse race on YouTube to guests to get the party going. Caprese Crisps is a lovely little pick-me-up morsel. It’s savory and salty with a little crunch. Serve them with a lemony chilled prosecco.
Parmesan Crisps- Makes about 32 crisps
- 1 8-oz. ball fresh mozzarella in water
- ¼ cup thinly sliced basil leaves
- 4 cups Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Shred cheese with the small holes of a box grater. Working in batches, spread tablespoons of cheese into 2 to 2 ½ inch circles on a parchment lined baking sheet
Place into the oven for six to eight minutes until lightly browned
Remove from the oven let cool for three minutes. Carefully remove crisps to a wire rack and repeat with remaining cheese.
*These can be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container.
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