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Simple Pleasures- New Oil

We live in the middle of olive groves and vineyards, but we don’t make our own wine or olive oil. But we know where to get it FRESH. at the mill waiting to be crushed Near our home is a fabulous olive oil cooperative with over 1,000 members. They all live within 30 km of…

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NEW OIL TIME

Have you ever tried new oil? Just as it comes out of the press? Here in Tuscany, it takes your breath away and burns you throat with it’s pepperiness.   New oil is always a reason to celebrate in Italy. In 1985, it snowed heavily and we lost thousands of olive trees. Olive oil is…

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Florence November 4, 1966

As the world was hit with hurricane Sandy, first in Cuba and then the USA, leaving thousands with no clean water, electricity and homes destroyed, I remember stories from my husband here in Florence during the flood on November 4th,1966. The voice over is a famous Florentine singer, who is “joking” about the flood. A…

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New Tricks in my Kitchen

From my recent trip down south, I learned a few new recipes. The first one was outside Benevento where we went for a wine-tasting lunch at the La Guardiense Cooperative. I had been before and was so taken by one of the dishes the local women made for us. It is a handmade pasta, made but…

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Wordless Wednesday- Eye Candy

Andrea at Maccaroni Ciro at Antico Borgo in Gragnano Ernesto at Don Alfonso Sergio at Faella- Gragnano It’s the people that make the experience. Thanks for making our trip memorable. Mille Grazie After this trip, I may have to make a new “boy” calendar……  

Old pasta– new to me

I travel a lot in Italy, often doing research and development for new trips. Discovering the regional pasta dishes and other specialites is like a treasure hunt. I was invited on a PR trip to discover the area outside of Naples, which makes one of my favorite liquore, Strega. The town of Benevento and the…

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Naples—- home to pizza!

There has been a huge protest in Naples, a new guide book came out on pizzeria’s and Naples wasn’t mentioned as having the BEST pizza— but rather someone in northern Italy. We of course based this Slow Food Kansas City trip on the quality ingredients which make the pizza here so special. But ingredients alone…

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Market Boy Calendar 2013

ok- it is real! I finally made a calendar with some of my favorite vendors in and around Florence. You can click here to order, look for the discount code! ( discount good until November 27,2012)

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Judy Witts Francini

Originally from California; Tuscany has been my home since 1984. I found the city of Florence to hold all my passions, food, wine, art all in one place. When I am not in Tuscany, I am often found in Sicily, my other favorite place to be. Always searching for recipes to share and exploring for the guides I write to my favorite cities for food and wine.

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Visit Tuscany | Kitchenmate

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