We’re back with another recipe from Michelin-starred chef Matthew Accarrino’s great book, SPQR: Modern Italian Food and Wine. This one is great to share as a starter or with drinks when you’re entertaining. It packs plenty of flavor, and the combination of those salty anchovies, fresh lemon and crunchy breadcrumbs is classically Sicilian, making it perfect for anyone looking for a genuine taste of southern Italy that doesn’t involve pasta.

Joe Staples is Executive Creative Director at Mother, one of the world’s most respected independent creative companies. He was also the original creative force behind the inGamba brand

It’s a weird time. I’m either bummed that the world is falling apart of incredibly happy because I’m finding time early in the morning to ride my bike, and then feeling guilty for feeling so good. I’m missing my friends. Just the silly moments between things. I miss chatting shoulder to shoulder with someone as we climb. I love those chats because they are never about work and they are usually on a subject that I know nothing about. I’ve learnt about the history of Fire Fighting, about the body language differences between dogs and cats, I’ve talked about theories of breastfeeding and 1000 other things. 

Like a marriage or a business partnership, finding like-minded cyclists is key to a happy riding relationship

Picking a bike is easy. You’ve got a budget and a rough idea of what you want to do with it, and these days, it’s almost impossible to find a really bad one. Same goes for clothing. Spend as much as you can afford, choose a color that suits, and you’ll be happy. Even selecting a route is easy, what with Strava and the plethora of websites dedicated to cataloging and chronicling the choicest roads in every part of the world. You could drop into somewhere completely new, with no one to guide you, and after 20 minutes of Googling you’d be an expert on the local terrain. Sure, some bikes and bibs and roads are better than others, but it’s really easy to settle on a perfectly enjoyable combination of the three in no time. No, there’s only one really tough choice facing modern cyclists, and it is one that has vexed since people started turning pedals for fun back in the 19th century: Who do you want to ride with?

Indoor training has come a long way in the last few years. Back in the day, using home trainers just felt wrong, because the equipment was clunky, loud, and worst of all, monotonous. And the ride itself was static and uninteresting – the exact opposite of what getting on your bike should be. Putting in the hours over winter would certainly yield results come spring, but unless you were racing it never really felt worth it. But no more. 

We always have the makings of a few signature cocktails close to hand. There’s nothing wrong with reaching for an ice-cold beer or a glass of wine at the end of the day, but sometimes you just need something a little more special.

Food and drink can be a great way to relive memories, especially in times like these. And while there’s no substitute for enjoying one of these with friends after a long bike ride in Italy or Portugal, we’re tipping our hat to all the places we can’t wait to go with these signature cocktails. So bottoms up, and here’s to raising a glass together real soon.