Divina Cucina

Your Best Friend in Italy

  • About Judy
  • Video Classes
  • Journal
  • Culinary Guides
  • Recipes
  • Cookbook

Happy Holidays

It really takes very little to be happy, sometimes just a bowl of hot broth and some pasta. Usually I make the Bollito Misto dinner for xmas, as it is simple to prepare and provides us with several meals. There are also other dishes I make in winter for Andrea that take a long time…

Read More »

New Tricks- Farina Arsa

On my recent trip down to Puglia to meet with Antonello and Laura from Southern Visions Travel, to talk about my Guest chef week in June next year, the first thing I wanted to taste and or see, was farina arsa.Burnt wheat flour is a product of the cucina povera in Puglia. Burn wheat kernals…

Read More »

Fall Favorites- Kale Bruschetta

Right now life is a little hectic. When I stop working, I have to catch up on work, if you know what I mean. End of the year paperwork, things I have let slip by. And when that happens, cooking time in the kitchen  also gets cut down to quick recipes or really long slow…

Read More »

Discovering Puglia- Again

Each trip I make down to Puglia, makes me want more.  The Trulli, small cone-shaped homes looking like something from J.R. Tolkien. Ancient olive trees with hollows in their huge trunks. One almost expects to see hobbits or trolls. one of the many abandoned Trulli homes no, I am not thinking ” a little fixer-upper”….

Read More »

Divina Cucina on the Road- Puglia

Probably one of my favorite parts of my job is doing research. I adore creating custom programs for people based on my travels. I have been down to Puglia over the years and have been dying to bring students with me to share my love for this incredible land. We came down to visit our…

Read More »

Gifts of the Season- Melograno

I have always been fascinated by pomegrantes ,melograno in Italian. When in season, the trees look as if they have been decorated for an early Christmas, hanging on the thin branches like decorations along with the persimmon trees.Pomegranates seeds,arils, which glisten and look like tiny rubies, are one of my favorite ingredients in winter salads. Cut open…

Read More »

Cucina Povera- Pamela Sheldon Johns

I was lucky to receive a review copy of Pamela’s new book, Cucina Povera, Tuscan Peasant Cooking. Pamela has a true passion for Italy and this book, her 16th I believe, is a tribute to the people that have taught us so much. The book is a pleasure to read. I kept it near my…

Read More »

Cioccolosa!

When the chill of winter first blows into town, any good Italian knows it is time for a Cioccolato Caldo. If you have never experienced a Italian hot chocolate, you are in for a surprise. It is not that thin water thing we drink in the USA with marshmallows, but rather like drinking pudding. I…

Read More »

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Judy Witts Francini

Originally from California; Tuscany has been my home since 1984. I found the city of Florence to hold all my passions, food, wine, art all in one place. When I am not in Tuscany, I am often found in Sicily, my other favorite place to be. Always searching for recipes to share and exploring for the guides I write to my favorite cities for food and wine.

Follow Me

Sign up for newsletter

Join me on Patreon!

buy my cookbook

buy my cookbook

Visit Tuscany | Kitchenmate

Visit Tuscany | Kitchenmate

Cibò So Good Ambassodor

All Categories

  • Press
  • Contact Me

© Copyright 2023 Simply Divina, Inc. · All Rights Reserved