When the chill of winter first blows into town, any good Italian knows it is time for a Cioccolato Caldo. If you have never experienced a Italian hot chocolate, you are in for a surprise. It is not that thin water thing we drink in the USA with marshmallows, but rather like drinking pudding. I…
Switching Gears to a New Year
I am getting re-energized by the incredible morning light. Although I am not a morning person, I cannot help but wake up to enjoy all the light available now, since by 5:30pm it is dark.Catching up on emails, dreaming about 2012 and filling in my calendar with the weeklong programs already booked is a pleasure.I…
Sicilian Treasures-Salt Flats-Mothia-Trapani
There are places in Sicily i adore returning to. The salt flats are probably one of my favorites. We were lucky enough to get a picture perfect day as we left Menfi heading to the East Coast to leave. It is a magical place even when the salt is not out drying covered in the…
Sicilian Secrets in the Kitchen
It is no secret that I ADORE Sicily. I am looking for a place in Trapani to perhaps split my time 50/50 with Tuscany. I want to write my Secrets of My Sicilian Kitchen cookbook. I have always believed in dreaming and making dreams come true. Each time I come down with one of my…
New Harvest- Zafferano
Last year I was gifted saffron bulbs. I was thrilled with my success and this year split the bulbs, gifted some myself and then replanted this fall. When I returned from Naples on Friday, my first blossoms were up and it had started to rain, so I ran out to gather the first blossoms. I…
A Passion for Palermo – it’s OFFAL
I always adore taking people to the Capo market in Palermo, which is still very alive.Just outside the gate of the market is the ” Man with the Basket” seen in many of the food video’s of people that eat anything! I also adore the guy- his basket of mystery meat— tastes good! Frittole vendor…
What’s Going On?
WOW- this month has been wild and crazy, so much so that I have not have time to myself to blog. The weather has been incredible- creating views like this in Florence. It has been fun and fabulous. I just got back from a week touring with a chef from NY tour and get inspired for…
Tasting the Past- Cotognata ( Quince Paste)
There are some fruits and vegetables that remind me of the past. Odd shapes and incredible flavor and fragrances. Quince are one of those fruits. Impossible to eat as is. Often when at the market something catches my eye that I HAVE TO COOK. I don’t think I ever cooked or saw quince in California…