Miscellaneous

Garlic-herb Orzo Pilaf, Mediterranean Svizzera, and Piranesi

July 23, 2025
editor
The Mediterranean Svizzera cocktail, with its bright limoncello and herbal notes, complements the Garlic-Herb Orzo Pilaf's flavors beautifully, while 'Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke, with its mysterious and contemplative narrative, provides the perfect backdrop to enjoy this pairing. The cocktail's refreshing qualities harmonize with the dish's savory components, creating an immersive dining and reading experience that captures both the palate and the imagination.
Garlic-herb Orzo Pilaf

Ingredients

  • 1 cup orzo pasta
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

  • In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Stir in the orzo pasta, allowing it to lightly toast for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
  • Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, and add the oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Stir to combine.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan. Let the orzo simmer for about 10-12 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the orzo is tender.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat. Fluff the orzo with a fork and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Stir in the fresh parsley and, if desired, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a bright, tangy finish.
  • Serve the Garlic-Herb Orzo Pilaf warm as a side dish to your favorite entrée. Enjoy!

Piranesi

Piranesi

Piranesi's house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, and rooms are flooded in an instant.
New York Times Bestseller Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction World Fantasy Awards Finalist From the New York Times bestselling author of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, an intoxicating, hypnotic new novel set in a dreamlike alternative reality. Piranesi's house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house. There is one other person in the house-a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known. For readers of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane and fans of Madeline Miller's Circe, Piranesi introduces an astonishing new world, an infinite labyrinth, full of startling images and surreal beauty, haunted by the tides and the clouds.

Discussion Questions

  • How does the setting of Piranesi's world contribute to the overall mood of the book?
  • In what ways does Piranesi's character evolve throughout the story?
  • Discuss the significance of memory and identity in the novel.
  • How do the statues within the house reflect different themes of the story?
  • Explore the relationship between Piranesi and The Other. What does it reveal about trust and isolation?
  • What role does the theme of discovery play in Piranesi's journey?
  • How does Susan Clarke use language to create a sense of mystery and wonder?
  • What is the impact of the novel's structure on your understanding of the plot and characters?
  • How does Piranesi compare and contrast to reality as we know it?
  • What are the moral implications of the actions taken by The Other in the narrative?
Authors: Susanna Clarke
ISBN: 9781635575637
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Published Date: 2020-09-15

Mediterranean Svizzera

Mediterranean Svizzera
The Mediterranean Svizzera is a refreshing cocktail that blends the bright notes of limoncello with sparkling water and a hint of mint. This light and easy-to-make drink perfectly complements Mediterranean dishes like the Garlic-Herb Orzo Pilaf, providing a citrusy counterbalance to the savory herbs.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz limoncello
  • 4 oz sparkling water
  • Fresh mint leaves
  • Ice cubes
  • Lemon slices for garnish

Instructions

  • Fill a glass with ice cubes.
  • Add 2 oz of limoncello over the ice.
  • Pour 4 oz of sparkling water into the glass.
  • Gently stir to combine.
  • Add a few fresh mint leaves and a slice of lemon for garnish.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!