LIVING

VONGOLE

Serves 2 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 15 minutes

“Clams are my favourite food. Some people can sit and eat ridiculous volumes of oysters (I am also one of those people), and I feel the same about clams. Winey, garlicky clams, with buttery bread to mop up the juices, in a hot country like Spain or Portugal and a freezing glass of light white wine are one of the biggest eating pleasures of all. But in Italy you get to have it with the other best food of all (I may have to broaden my idea of what my actual ‘best food’ is here) – spaghetti.

“Okay, so here’s the deal with . I use four techniques to ensure maximum flavour: first, I open the clams early in too much wine; second, I use waaaaay too much garlic (alarming amounts,