I recently received a copy of Emiko Davies ‘s cookbook, Florentine, The True Cuisine of Florence. It is filled with her favorite recipes from living in and around Florence. Like me, she got some of her inspiration for the local trattoria’s, pizza places and friends. Marrying a Italian also helps for quality control! I first saw…
Day Tripping from Florence- Prato- #eatPrato
The Medici family always knew a good thing. 300 years ago, they created the wine producing region of Carmignano. Carmignano is part of the province of Prato, just outside of Florence. I have several favorite restaurants and bakeries, shops and wine producers in the area I love visiting in Carmignano, but the town of Prato…
Gnudi- Naked Ravioli
The recipe names are funny. This is a personal favorite: naked ravioli. Naked? Yes, they have no pasta dough around them, so the classic spinach and ricotta filling is simply made into a gnocchi-like dumpling. In other areas, they are known as strozzapreti, “priest-chokers,” but strozzapreti can also be a long hand-rolled spaghetti-like pasta, which I would…
Easy Risotto: Non-stir with Pumpkin
Probably one of my most requested recipes is the non-stir risotto I learned from the owner of Pila Vecia, Gabriele Ferron. We visited him in his place just outside Verona and saw the old mill for milling the rice and learned all about rice. Like all regional recipes, there are different rules, depending where…
Food Rules: Cafe Life
In a recent article, it was announced that Starbucks is opening in Milano in January,in the land of cappuccino,espresso and caffe’ macchiato. WHAT? Isnt’t that really bringing coals to Newcastle? I am on FB a lot, and it was brought to my attention that Italy inspired the creation of Starbucks. On a visit to Italy,…
Make Soup not War
It is hard to think about fun things when the world has been attacked. First Beirut and now Paris. Daily I read about shootings in USA which kill more people than these “terrorist” attacks. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD. I try not to bring politics into my blog, but I am feeling sick to…
Tuscan Fall Pleasures- Chickpea Pancakes
Old recipes are new again, Cecina, a gluten free crepe,is popping up all over again. I am always thrilled with I get return students. This past season, I hosted a student from 10 years ago, that has now found a new path. For her program, using food to heal people, gluten-free cooking is a large…
Truffled Farro Salad-Chicchi
Ages ago on a trip down to Umbria, we stayed in a castle hotel run by locals that has restored the abandoned castle. We dined there one night. Chef Donatella Lauteri, the young wizard in the kitchen, shared this incredible recipe with me ,warm truffled farro (spelt) salad. She called it Chicchi, little kernals. …