I think EVERYONE in Italy has an “orto“, a small vegetable garden, if not at their home, somewhere. As I take the train from Certaldo into Florence, I see thousands of vegetable gardens all along the tracks, some on real gardens others it looks like on confiscated land. Nothing is more important than food in…
Updates from the Orto
Learning the Moves
Not being born Italian, but rather adopting Italy as my home and being adopted has been a fabulous experience. I was just asked today if I taught my students Americanized Tuscan food.WHAT??? NO WAY—- I want my students to go home and create better Tuscan food than a restaurant, since they are learning to cook…
Sex and Zucchini- a 101 on blossoms
Recently the question of which blossoms to fry for zucchini has come up on twitter and facebook conversations. Few people know that the blossoms without a zucchini are male, those with a zucchini are female. On the left side are girls- with zucchinis attached- and on the right boys- stems only Look inside Girls have…
Day-Tripping: Rome
Rome’s Unknown Soldier’s TombI love day-tripping- although it can be exhausting- when I can, I go. This trip was to visit my friend from Paris, David Lebovitz, who was in Rome doing Gelato tours for Context and a book signing party for the release of his new dessert cookbook. I couldn’t make it down for…
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….
Day-Tripping: Bologna
I adore markets,taking trains and day-tripping. It is a fabulous way to take mini-vacations without spending a fortune. I am on my way to combine all three! We are heading to Bologna to check out the Slow Food Market there on Saturday mornings and the cooking school Amici di Babette for my Fall Slow Food…
Certaldo- Home Sweet Home
Since moving to Certaldo, but working in Florence, it has not really seemed a home. Now that I am teaching cooking classes at Villa il Poggiolaia it has finally become home. Having more time here has allowed us to finally plant an orto , our own vegetable garden. We ate our first peas last week…