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…
Certaldo Alto- My Hood
I am a real city girl or so I thought. After 20 years of living in downtown Florence, the noise and air pollution got to me and we moved out to the countryside. We actually bought a tiny 1/2 of a country house to restore. Did I tell you I am NOT FRANCES MAYES? The restoration…
Sweet Home- Toscana
Flying to California a month ago, I had an epiphany. I am the matriarch of my family AND I have no HOME in California. Thirty-two years ago, I bought a one way ticket to France. Little did I know that Italy would become my home. This trip back to California was hard. I was going…
Artisans – Filippo Romagnoli – Woodworker
While doing research for my Taste Chianti App, which includes places to eat, drink, shop and stay. I discovered a wonderful artisan right near my house. Facebook works in mysterious ways. I saw my friend Sarah from Chicago had had corzetti stamps made in Chianti. Since it is a Ligurian specialty, that surprised me….
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…
Food Markets in Tuscany
When ever I go anywhere, the first place I want to see is the city market. If it is a large town, there will be a market in a building. Smaller towns have weekly markets in the small squares once a week or more. We have monthly markets for organic food markets, flea markets and…
Taste Chianti- New APP
2016 has started off with a bang. Doors closing but new doors opening. I closed my teaching space to concentrate on my weeklong programs and offer “Divine Day Trips” Custom tours of the market, day trips into Chianti or lessons at your villa. I spent the past winter recreating my app, which Sutro had…
Real Extra Virgin Olive Oil- what is it?
When the 60 Minute special on olive oil fraud was shown on TV, I was immediately inundated with emails from past clients. To me, it is not news. I think everyone here knows that companies blend oil to create fake EVOO. I consider EVOO made from olives to oil, not blending oils. I say fake,…