distorted visions of life in Italy?? even artichokes have a prickly heart! I have been living in Italy since 1984 and started my website in 1997. Living with slow internet connections it was hard to post often, but I put my dining guide online for Florence and Chianti, introduced you all to some of my…
What’s Cooking?
Let the cooking begin!!! Yesterday was my first new “Kitchen in Chianti” cooking class at Villa il Poggiolaia, near my home in Certaldo. We had a blast. Certaldo will never be the same now. The vendors at the weekly market where thrilled with our joy and enthusiasm with the ingredients we found and…
Why I love My Job
When I first started teaching my market to table cooking classes in Florence, I had already spent 4 years shopping the markets, cooking to perfect recipes and eating. What’s not to love? Every trip to the market is a new experience for me. Season fruits and vegetables, strange “offal”, eavesdropping on conversations and picking up…
Why I Shop Local Markets
Monday Market in San Casciano- ChiantiMy market mantra came from my Mother-in-law, Tina,“Spend more time shopping and less time cooking.” I have learned that it is not the recipe that you cook nor the time you spend preparing food which makes it taste good. It is the quality of the ingredients which you work with.In…
FAT TUESDAY- Martedi Grasso- Mardi Gras- Shrove Tuesday
Let the good times roll! inside our cab in NOLA!!!Florence also uses the Fleur du Lys Easter comes early this year, which means carnival is already here. Most people think of the fabulous costumes in Venice and the parties in palazzi, but it is also a festival of the people. Streets are filled with families…
There is No Place Like Home
I did not get my fill of Mexican food this trip, not enough avocado’s just with lime and salt.I didn’t eat enough food at the street markets nor did I bring back fresh chili’s or limes this trip.But when I arrived back in Tuscany- I wanted my Tuscan comfort foods. A nice bowl of Tuscan slow-cooked…
Hola- Divina Cucina on the Road
As I sit here in my friend Ruth’s apartment, waking up to see sunrise over Mexico City from her home in Condensa, I am finally feeling less exhausted. This trip began with an early flight from Florence and a 5 hour lay-over in Amsterdam. I was thrilled when I saw the YoHotel– and although was…
Buona Befana
La Befana vien di notte con le scarpe tutte rotte The Befana comes at night with broken shoes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Santo Stefano ( the 26th), New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and now the Befana- finally the Italian holidays are over! Except, technically Carnivale starts now and Easter comes early this year, April…