When I first moved to Italy in 1984, there were a couple of Italian guide books with an emphasis on eating in Italy. Often food is a part of a guide book, but for people like me, often the destination is all about the food. Recently I received a review copy of my friend Elizabeth…
Slow Food and Fast Cars
I am truly blessed to work with food and wine in a place like Italy, where it is almost a religion. The passion for what we eat and drink by both the producers and the consumers is really contagious. Fall is probably my favorite season for traveling and sharing food and wine, as the cooler…
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…
Market Inspired Recipe- Tigelle
Often when I say I am market inspired to cook something, I am referring to the fresh fruit and vegetable markets held weekly in local towns or the Central Market in Florence where I conduct my walking tours. But there are other markets that inspire me- the first Sunday of the month in Panzano is…
Nocino- Nocillo
A local liquor, made both in Tuscany, Emilia Romagna and in Campagna with unripe walnuts, picked on June 24th,St John the Baptist’s day. He is the patron Saint of Florence and during the old pagan calender June 24th was the summer soltice! The walnuts are picked before they form the shell on the inside so…