Fresh porcini caps, to be grilled, stems used to saute’ for a risotto with wild mint, Nepitella. Coming from California, I really only had one set of clothes, the weather never really changed. Add a sweater, take off a sweater. In Italy, not only are there the four seasons, there are also the mezza stagione,…
Art in Florence
From our table inside Mario’s looking out at the never-ending line! The Art of Dining in Florence can be of the highest levels. Yesterday at Mario’s was one of those days. I have taken most of April off to work on self-publishing my cookbook with more notes and recipes for sale to the public and…
The Big Scoop!
The Big Scoop is out…. David L’s new book The Perfect Scoop has been released! Filled with incredible recipes for not only ice cream, gelato, sorbet and granita but also toppings, what David calls “vessels” to serve your ice cream in such as crepes profiterols etc and a wild selection of things to stir in…
Organic Florence- Sunday Market- Good Kitchen Karma
The third Sunday of the month in Florence is the Fierucola in Piazza Santo Spirito, crossing over the arno… to the oltr’arno…. or as they say here Dilladarno. This is a wonderful place to shop, picking up home-grown items such as honey, plants, herbs, pasta, cheese, wool items, soaps and whatever these creative people can…
La Notte di San Lorenzo
August 10th is the San Lorenzo’s day. Saint Lawrence, San Lorenzo, was martryed by being grilled to death. The story goes that as he was being grilled, he called out to those torturing him and said, ” Turn me over I’m done on this side!”. For me, San Lorenzo is the patron Saint of my…
If you can’t say anything nice….
Well, let’s just say July wasn’t very good! Most people only want to hear about the good stuff, how fabulous it is to live in Italy. Food , wine, great weather, etc. Well sometimes reality strikes and it isn’t pretty! I started off by trying to cut back the arugula in my garden July 3rd,…
Florence is DiVino
I am one lucky woman! Besides being able to call Florence home, having a fabulous husband and teaching cooking in one of the best food centers of the world; now my friend Stefano and his sister Patrizia have opened a Vino Sfuso shop on my street. BYOB has a new meaning in Florence. Bring your…
Seasons best…Primavera
Living in the countryside has me much more in touch with the seasons, as everyday there is something new going on, expecially in spring. Winter seems never ending and when spring arrives, it explodes! The green valley in front of my house Vines climbing up, young grape bunches, just flowers now Yesterday’s cherry blossoms ……