Comments on: Heirloom Polenta in the Cafe http://www.oliveto.com/ourcommunity/events/heirloom-polenta-in-the-cafe News from our farmers, ranchers, and kitchen... Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:06:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: William Rubel http://www.oliveto.com/ourcommunity/events/heirloom-polenta-in-the-cafe/comment-page-1#comment-2289 William Rubel Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:06:31 +0000 http://www.oliveto.com/ourcommunity/?p=5688#comment-2289 What I can say about the identity of Floriani Red Flint is that the Floriani's attribution of Spin rosso della Valsugana is based on morphological evidence. Red-eared flint corn is common in the Italian and Austrian Alps. I have no doubt that a similar corn is grown near Lake Como. It could even be the same corn, but we do not know that. It would take a DNA analysis of the cladal relationships between the corn that Oliveto is growing and the one Carlo Vigetti is referring to. This type of corn is notoriously variable. Identification of the precise variety from one or even a few ears is not easy. Common names are notoriously careless ways of identifying plants. What we know is that people living in the Valsugana Valley recognize Floriani Red Flint as being the polenta corn that has long been grown in their valley. Other strains, besides this one, may have a similar taste profile. I would interested in hearing from anyone reading this who works in a lab that could perform a cladal analysis of this corn and compare it with DNA from Alpine maize varieties from Lake Como and other regions. What I can say about the identity of Floriani Red Flint is that the Floriani’s attribution of Spin rosso della Valsugana is based on morphological evidence. Red-eared flint corn is common in the Italian and Austrian Alps. I have no doubt that a similar corn is grown near Lake Como. It could even be the same corn, but we do not know that. It would take a DNA analysis of the cladal relationships between the corn that Oliveto is growing and the one Carlo Vigetti is referring to. This type of corn is notoriously variable. Identification of the precise variety from one or even a few ears is not easy. Common names are notoriously careless ways of identifying plants. What we know is that people living in the Valsugana Valley recognize Floriani Red Flint as being the polenta corn that has long been grown in their valley. Other strains, besides this one, may have a similar taste profile.

I would interested in hearing from anyone reading this who works in a lab that could perform a cladal analysis of this corn and compare it with DNA from Alpine maize varieties from Lake Como and other regions.

]]> By: Elizabeth / A Rockridge Life http://www.oliveto.com/ourcommunity/events/heirloom-polenta-in-the-cafe/comment-page-1#comment-1630 Elizabeth / A Rockridge Life Tue, 18 May 2010 04:21:34 +0000 http://www.oliveto.com/ourcommunity/?p=5688#comment-1630 Congratulations on making the heirloom red flint polenta a reality for us in Rockridge. A great boon to your already exceptional offerings. Congratulations on making the heirloom red flint polenta a reality for us in Rockridge. A great boon to your already exceptional offerings.

]]>