We first encountered mandarinello in
the spring of 2002, when we were staying a week in Vernazza, one of the five
villages that comprise the Cinque Terre.
We had rented a grape harvester’s cottage high above the village
for our own version of Enchanted April. That film was set in Portofino, a few
miles west along the Tyrrhenian Coast.
In the garden of our cottage, the spring vegetables were just coming in.
The precipitous terraces enabled us to reach to the tops of the mandarin trees
growing below to pluck fresh fruits nearing the end of their season.
Each day, we hiked from at least one of the five villages to
another, and sometimes back. On occasion, sated by a tremendous noon dinner, we
would return by the milk train. If you haven’t been there, this is the quickest
way to get from village to village.
When in Corniglia, the middle village of the five, perched high
atop a bluff overlooking the sea, we had just finished a wonderful midday meal
at Osteria A Cantina de Mananan, when we came across a little shop that sold
limoncello and mandarinello.
We were well acquainted with limoncello, but had never tried
mandarinello. So we bought a bottle, and the bottle itself was spherical and embossed
with the continents to make it look like the globe.
The truth is, we bought the mandarinello for us, and the bottle
for our friend Mikey who collects maps and globes. Mikey doesn’t drink, so we
simply had to empty that bottle
before giving it to him.
Now that is true friendship, right?
Flash-forward to this year when we had a lovely crop of mandarin
oranges on our very own little potted tree. It was our first year with this
particular variety and we admit to being a little disappointed. The fruit was
much more tart than we anticipated.
If, when life gives you lemons, you make Lavender Lemonade, it
only follows that, when life gives you sour mandarin oranges, you make
mandarinello.
You can make this liqueur with any kind of mandarin orange or
clementine. It takes only 10 days to steep so, in December, when the fruits are prolific in
the stores, you are just in time to make it and have it ready for the holidays.
Mandarinello
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Frank
December 10, 2016 at 2:32 pmMandarinello indeed is limoncello only made with mandarine oranges, which sounds absolutely lovely. Like the place where you made its acquaintance. Don't you find the memories only make it taste even better?
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2016 at 2:43 pmThey do, Frank – sometimes the memories taste even better!
Sippity Sup
December 10, 2016 at 6:01 pmI have a first year crop of satsuma so that I hope are sweet enough to eat out of hand. If not thanks for this smart fix for sour fruit. PS You paint a vibrant image of you Italian trip. GREG
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2016 at 2:43 pmI hope your Satsumas are sweet, Greg – if not, I am sure you will make something fantastic out of them!
John | heneedsfood
December 10, 2016 at 9:25 pmI take it that no arms were twisted to empty that bottle! And you stayed in Vernazza? So jealous. Part of the trail was closed when were were there, so we didn't get to see all of the villages. At least Vernazza was one of them.
Some friends of ours make their own limoncello, so I may be telling them about this beauty. Only so it's ready for when we get back home.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2016 at 2:44 pmI have stayed in Vernazza twice now – once before it was the popular destination it has become, and then once with Mark about 14 years ago. I definitely want/need to go back.
Nutmeg
December 10, 2016 at 10:00 pmI am sure Mandarinello is delicious. We love limoncello and have recently fallen in love with melonise (combination of melon and anise). But, you need to come to Provence to try it 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2016 at 2:45 pmYou need not twist my arm, Carolyne! The melonise sounds fantastic!
Cheri Savory Spoon
December 11, 2016 at 1:25 pmVery nice David, I bet Mandarinello is delicious. Staying in a grape harvestor's cottage sounds romantic to me, the perfect way to explore and enjoy an area. Beautiful pictures!!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2016 at 2:45 pmIt was pretty romantic, Cheri – the living room and kitchen were outdoors under the patio roof, and the bed and bath indoors, although there was no temperature differential!
Marcelle
December 11, 2016 at 5:35 pmDavid, I enjoyed the beautiful pictures of your trip. That village looks magical and romantic! Your Mandarinello sounds delicious. 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2016 at 2:46 pmMarcelle – it is one of my favorite places on earth, and definitely romantic!
Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things
December 11, 2016 at 9:55 pmOh my word, what a beautiful post, David. Thank you so much for sharing this. I had not heard of Mandarinello before this xxx
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2016 at 2:47 pmThanks, Liz! I have never seen mandarinello outside of Liguria – maybe it is a local specialty?
Linda @ Life and Linda
December 11, 2016 at 9:59 pmBeautiful post. I love seeing the amazing photos. I haven't heard of mandarinello, so this excites me. thanks for sharing the recipe. I would love if you share this at our link party, Dishing It & Digging It. The party is live now.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2016 at 2:47 pmThanks, Linda – I am so sorry I am reading this the next morning. I need to find out about the Dishing It & Digging It parties!
All That I'm Eating
December 12, 2016 at 11:07 amThis is such an amazing colour! What a great story to go with this drink. Would love to try it!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2016 at 2:48 pmThanks, Caroline – the color itself warms your heart…
Provence WineZine
December 13, 2016 at 3:27 amBetween the beautiful shades of orange and images of the Cinque Terre, this is a gorgeous post. Inspiring–makes me want to make the Mandarinello and return to the Cinque Terre!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 15, 2016 at 1:54 pmSusan – you should definitely do both those things! Make it, and return!
Gerlinde de Broekert
December 13, 2016 at 3:02 pmI have such fond memories of the the Cinque Terre . Thank you for bringing back those memories with this gorgeous post. David. Could you please email me the address of your cottage if it's still for rent . I have to try your mandarinello , it looks delicious.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 15, 2016 at 1:56 pmGerlinde – sadly, we lost contact with the owner, and I have even looked on Airbnb to see if I can locate it. But, the good news is, that while on Airbnb I fond many places I would love to rent!
Gerlinde de Broekert
December 15, 2016 at 4:19 pmThank you for trying David. I haven't made any traveling plans for 2017.
Karen (Back Road Journal)
December 14, 2016 at 8:45 pmThat is such a picture perfect part of Italy and your photos certainly show the charm of the area. What a nice and delicious way to use your sour fruit.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 15, 2016 at 1:57 pmKaren – it makes me so happy to know that such beautiful still exists in the world!
ChgoJohn
December 15, 2016 at 1:00 pmI've yet to make it to Cinque Terra, David, but would very much like to tour the 5 towns when I next visit my family. Your photos only strengthen that desire. If I can find enough mandarins, I'll gladly prepare this liqueur. In the past, I've made limoncello, arancello, and calcello, as well as a tart cherry liqueur. Mandarinello would make a fine addition to my repertoire. Thanks for sharing both your photos and recipe.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 15, 2016 at 1:57 pmI have never head of calcello, John, so am on my way to look that up! Happy Christmas!
Inger @ Art of Natural Living
December 18, 2016 at 12:07 amWhat a lovely solution–your tree is beautiful even if the fruit was not what you expected. And how nice that it brought back such interesting memories (and dramatic vistas)!