salame and country hams, best of
which are the prosciutto di San
Daniele and prosciutto di Parma (raw
Parma ham) which, eaten with
fresh figs, or melon, or simply with
butter, must be the most perfect
hors d’œuvre ever invented.
BLACK OLIVES
‘The whole Mediterranean, the
sculpture, the palms, the gold
beads, the bearded heroes, the
wine, the ideas, the ships, the
moonlight, the winged gorgons, the
bronze men, the philosophers – all
of it seems to rise in the sour,
pungent taste of these black olives