Zuppa di Cozze

This is a sumptuous soup which makes an elegant first course for a dinner party. The combination of the pasta, the aromatic broth and the steaming mussels in their shiny black shells looks and tastes delectable. Buy mussels that are tightly closed and barnacle-free as far as possible. The barnacles contain sediment, and since this soup is not strained they must be completely removed.

Italian garlic bread (known as ‘la brushetta’) goes very well with this soup. Slice a french stick d