What We Are Reading Today: Magical Mushrooms, Mischievous Molds
Updated 07 January 2020
Arab News
Mushrooms magically spew forth from the earth in the hours that follow a summer rain. Fuzzy brown molds mischievously turn forgotten peaches to slime in the kitchen fruit bowl.
And in thousands of other ways, members of the kingdom Fungi do their part to make life on Earth the miracle that it is. In this lively book, George Hudler leads us on a tour of an often-overlooked group of organisms, which differ radically from both animals and plants. Along the way the author stops to ponder the marvels of nature and the impact of mere microbes on the evolution of civilization. Nature’s ultimate recyclers not only save us from drowning in a sea of organic waste, but also provide us with food, drink, and a wide array of valuable medicines and industrial chemicals.
Some fungi make deadly poisons and psychedelic drugs that have interesting histories in and of themselves, and Hudler weaves tales of those into his scientific account of the nature of the fungi.
The role of fungi in the Irish potato famine, in the Salem Witch Trials, in the philosophical writings of Greek scholars, and in the creation of ginger snaps are just a few of the many great moments in history to grace these pages.
RIYADH: If you are looking for high-end Italian food in Riyadh with an ambience as great as the menu, Agio is the place to go. Tucked into The Canopy in central Riyadh in the Hittin neighborhood, Agio is a great location for those looking for Italian that is farther away from heavy traffic on the weekends.
The restaurant draws inspiration from the Amalfi Coast of Italy, with the flavors, colors and aroma of Capri making its way into the Agio experience. Agio describes itself as “the celebration of food of the Capri coast” as its menu blends traditional dishes with new flavors and innovative twists.
When entering, you can choose to either sit on the upstairs outdoor terrace or at the indoor tables downstairs. If you are going when the weather is pleasant, I would certainly recommend sitting upstairs, as the scenery, view and decor is unbeatable.
For the menu, I would opt for appetizers like the bresaola, which costs SR112 ($30) — it is a great starter for a classic Italian dinner as it blends flavors of Spanish beef with parmesan. If you are looking for a carb and creamy starter instead, Agio’s sformato di patate is a delicious option.
Priced at SR38, the appetizer brings together baked potatoes with a warm creamy cheese sauce. The menu offers other appetizers with many including soup, calamari and salad.
Limoncello Tiramisù. (Supplied)
Their baby calamari (SR132) and Flamengo tomato soup (SR45) are both worth trying if you are looking for more appetizers for the table.
Moving onto mains, the pasta and ravioli menus are excitingly diverse. With a vast array of options to choose from, I would order multiple options to share for the table as you do not want to limit yourself to one dish.
A favorite of mine would be the rigatoni piccanti (SR95), which blends creamy pink sauce with spicy aromas from the chili sauce. For truffle lovers, Agio offers both a ravioli and risotto option. Risotto al tartufo (SR275) is a classic creamy risotto shaved black truffle. For those who favor a good ravioli, the truffle & pecorino ravioli (SR115) is a creamier option due to the soft ricotta filling.
Agio offers a vast menu for mains which ranges from the pastas listed above to many more, as well pizza, meat, fish and chicken selections. The veal Milanese (SR210) and branzino di sofia (SR185) are great protein-based dishes to pair alongside your selected pastas and pizzas.
Be sure to save some space for dessert because Agio’s dessert menu truly brings a taste of Capri to the table.
If you are looking to dive into the zesty lemon flavors of the Amalfi Coast, I recommend either the torta della nonna (SR70) or the limoncello tiramisu (SR105). The torta della nonna is a nutty and lemony pastry dessert option, whereas the limoncello tiramisu is a soft mascarpone cream dish. For those looking to try more traditional dessert options, I would opt for the classic tiramisu.
While Agio is a delicious option for anyone looking to try a Capri-style restaurant in Riyadh, the restaurant is certainly on the higher-end price wise; but if you are willing to spend a little extra, Agio’s menu is worth the visit.
