A simple salad of grilled courgette, garlic, mint & (a lot of) olive oil

In the summer of 2008, after having lived in Italy for almost a year, I spent a week or so with my friend Dora and her family in Calabria — a southern region much overshadowed by Sicily and Puglia, with stunning nature and a rich culinary culture, known particularly for the strong hint of chilli that lingers in most dishes.

We had arrived in Calabria on the cheapest night train from Bologna, where we had just been to a Metallica concert. Looking back, I wonder whether I was nurturin