Sometimes recipes just need to be made, just because. I met a saffron producer online, who is also creating some facinating products from his farm in San Miniato. Toni’s site is Croco e Similace. Besides saffron, he grows rhubarb and thyme. He creates some very creative products which I can’t wait to try. Strawberry and…
Sweden in Italy
I love seeing dreams come true. My friends Guiliana and Marco wanted to open a Swedish Brasserie. They asked me to help them work on recipes and consult on the project. Things all fell into place. I found them a young fabulous Swedish chef, Mattias Sjöblom. He is supervising the menu and creates the new…
NEW OIL TIME
Have you ever tried new oil? Just as it comes out of the press? Here in Tuscany, it takes your breath away and burns you throat with it’s pepperiness. New oil is always a reason to celebrate in Italy. In 1985, it snowed heavily and we lost thousands of olive trees. Olive oil is…
Old pasta– new to me
I travel a lot in Italy, often doing research and development for new trips. Discovering the regional pasta dishes and other specialites is like a treasure hunt. I was invited on a PR trip to discover the area outside of Naples, which makes one of my favorite liquore, Strega. The town of Benevento and the…
Naples—- home to pizza!
There has been a huge protest in Naples, a new guide book came out on pizzeria’s and Naples wasn’t mentioned as having the BEST pizza— but rather someone in northern Italy. We of course based this Slow Food Kansas City trip on the quality ingredients which make the pizza here so special. But ingredients alone…
Rianata- Trapani style “pizza” – Calvino
When I was in Trapani last month, I took my friends to a favorite pizza spot I discovered a couple of trips ago, Calvino. Their pizza’s are different. Instead of sauce, they use tomatoes. My favorite is their classic Rianata pizza which is made with the cherry tomatoes, anchovy, pecorino cheese and oregano (rianata- oreganata)….
Tasting Sicily
I could have stayed here all day long. One of the only regrets I have is I don’t live near the beach, to smell the sea! I hope to fix that soon, to spend a month or so at a time at least, but my Culinary programs to Sicily at least get me here often….
Edible Tuscany- Certaldo
I am truly blessed. I live on a tiny hill in the middle of an olive orchard ( ok next to a creepy neighbor building the largest pizza oven of life which is becoming my new “view) in the heart of Tuscany. I don’t live in a huge house, but rather 1/3 of a old…