sorry for bad news twice in a row— My friend Kyle Phillips just passed away on Monday. Kyle was a food and wine writer and a gentle soul He left us his translation of Artusi’s ” The Art of Eating Well” one of Italy’s treasures of cooking. He also maintained two sites, one on food –…
Ciao Marcella
Marcella Hazan passed away yesterday. She was my Julia Child. I never really liked Italian food, until I discovered Larry Mindel’s restaurant Ciao in San Francisco. It was like stepping into Italy. There is no way to really cook Italian style without having come to Italy. Marcella was my first Italian teacher, through her cookbooks….
Working on a Dream
When I first started my website in 1997, I decided I wanted to share the places I loved to eat and drink in Florence and in Chianti. Not everyone can or wants to hire a guide when they visit Tuscany, but I hate they have to miss out on a great meal. I first had…
Simply Sicily
I am so in love with Sicily- and the Sicilians. It is an island full of passion for life. I am constantly charged with energy. Volcanic soil? Sea Air? Perhaps the fabulous food? I have made some fabulous friends that are also passionate about food and share their “Secrets” with me, which I think share…
On The Road- California
It has been a wild and crazy trip. But now, I am stopping to smell the flowers, in my case,get my fill of favorite foods. I am enjoying a ripe Haas avocado for breakfast at my friends house this morning and will be taking a Mexican cooking class later today. I will post more later…
Divina Cucina on the Road
I adore travelling and teaching off season. This year I have done a class at my friend’s home in Sebastapol and another friends home cooking school in Lafayette. This week I was hosted by Cavallo Point in Sausalito, a truly fabulous space with great staff. Next up, heading to Seattle for a class in Bellevue…
Xmas 2012
Best wishes for a happy holiday season. Personally I can’t wait for this year to be over. Am looking forward to 2013, a special anniversary and am planning new things for Divina Cucina. Today Andrea and I are going out to Xmas lunch, which will be a HUGE meal, but at least we don’t have…
All I Want For Christmas…2012
All I want for Christmas is Peace. Today’s news of the massacre of children in USA is disgusting. Italy is falling apart and the corrupt Berlusconi is threatening to run again for office after putting Italy in this horrible position. I do not feel like celebrating xmas this year. Call me a grinch, but really?…