Carpaccio Where do names of dishes come from? Well, This is a painting by Vittorio Carpaccio, Venice, 1465-1525. Look at those vibrant reds. Red was a color depicting wealth. It was derived from a small bug which lives in a cactus, the cocciniglia, Dactylopius Coccus.In Florence, it is also used to color the liquore Alkermes which…
Simply Divina- Sicilian Swordfish
Swordfish is a beginner’s fish. One of the least fishy and more meaty fishes. There are some recipes which just grab you the first time you eat them and remain in your memory. This is one of them. When we go to Cantina Siciliana for our cooking class, Pino is more than generous to share…
5 of my Favorite Places in Certaldo
Thanks to Honest Cooking and #Fiji Water for asking me to participate in their search for great local food all over the world! When I moved out to the countryside between Florence and Siena in Tuscany, I knew I would be surrounded by incredible vistas and great cooking. The Tuscan cuisine is down to earth,…
Market Recipes: Benita’s Sicilian Eggplant
I adore eggplant and am always looking for new recipes. One of my first friends in the San Lorenzo market in Florence was Benita, the mamma at Porks. Originally it was a tiny corner kitchen, with sandwiches. I started to notice young men bringing her fish or a slice of meat and she would disappear…
Edible Florence- Obika’
Living outside of Florence now, I don’t get back into town as much as I would like to explore and relax on my own. Often I am down to do a market tour or meet up with someone for an event. My husband and I had some things to do and managed to be free…
Edible Florence- La Cucina del Garga
Sometimes in Florence, we always go back to the same local trattoria where we know we have great food. Often, there is no real reason to risk a meal. Then there is a reason to go just a little out of your way. La Cucina del Garga is one of those reasons. Part of Florence’s…
Edible Florence – BarbaGarga( now La Cucina del Garga)
Since I have moved away from downtown Florence, when I return I tend to go back to my same favorites over and over when I come down to run errands or do my market tours. I have been wanting to try BarbaGarga since it opened and finally got a chance to go to lunch with…
Edible Florence: Obica’ Mozzarella Bar
I had a student say to me that all they had been warned that all places downtown Florence are touristy and to stay away. It is not true, many trattoria’s, restaurants and wine bars are in the same place they have been for generations and happen to be visted by tourists as well as locals….