Walking into a shop with a wall like this is heaven for a foodie!Todays little film is in the heart of downtown Bologna- a culinary paradise! Emilia Romagna is home to most of Italy’s claim to culinary fame, including Parmesan Cheese, Prosciutto di Parma and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar from Modena and Reggio Emilia. In the…
A Minute at the Market- Castelfiorentino
One of my favorite moments of the living in Italy is shopping at the weekly market. Now that we live full time in the countryside outside of Florence, I miss the Central Market. We do go to the local COOP grocery store for basics and to the village shops for fresh goods. I am lucky…
Let me be your Italian Mamma!
When I first came to Florence in 1984, I never thought it would be home. But 25 years later here I am. I first began teaching cooking to Syracuse University students here are on a study abroad program in 1988. The first book was a collection of the 4 dinners we prepared during the 4…
Under the Tuscan sunset!
Probably one of the most precious moments of the day is sunset. Such a fleeting moment yet can be so inspiring. Winter’s grey days and storms often clear to leave us such incredible images. The hills near our house are all filled with olive groves. Andrea liked this one with a large trunk. In the…
Great Memories- San Gimignano
I Latini’s new Piatto di Buon Ricordo ( note: no longer available) I have been a fan and collector of the Piatti di Buon Ricordo since I moved here in 1984. To me, it is the way to visit Italy. Like a secret society, knocking on a door and saying ” Buon Ricordo“, the restaurant…
Yes we can!
2009 is going to be Fabulous! It was in 1984, when I bought a one way ticket to Europe, to improve my food knowledge of Italian cuisine. I had been working as a pastry chef at the Stanford Court Hotel in San Francisco, starting as a cashier, then waitress ( where the money to travel…
How do I love thee- let me count the recipes!
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Nowhere is that more true than in Italy! When I want to show my husband how much I care, there are certain recipes I will make for him, some of them are the recipes his mother taught me that are family favorites. But…
Sicilian Involtini
Here is what I had for dinner last night. I often think that Italian cooking has a bad rap, for taking a long time to make. Actually, short prep and long cooking are great! These beef rolls, which I learned in Castelvetrano at the cooking class we went to at the Becchina Estate, take little…