This is John Batchel, conversation week to week with my colleague Lorenzo Fiore. He's in Italy,

Lombardia, recommending places in Italy to visit that are not over tourists. That's a complaint

that the Italians raise each summer. Here we go to Mantova, which is in Lombardy, and medieval city Lorenzo tells me, surrounded by

three lakes that are artificial created out of the river as large moats. But most importantly,

what do you eat when you go to Mantova? Here Lorenzo takes us to the season of the

asparagus or the artichoke and what is to be done.

Much more of this about, and he chooses a wine later tonight as well.

Lorenzo Fiore, Mantova.

Well, right now is the season of artichoke and asparagus.

If you go to that part of Italy, all the market, street market are selling in the morning

fantastic asparagus and artichoke.

So my recommendation is to prepare in a pen a bit of olive oil, cut in pieces the artichoke

after having cleaned them all the asparagus, whatever you like more.

And then you cook smoothly until they are softer.

In meanwhile, you have boiled your pasta, whatever you like spaghetti, macaroni and so on.

Then you mix everything up, heading the pepper,

fresh olive oil and parmesan cheese.