blue skies- fabulous view from the outdoor dining terrace of Defina Finding myself with a free day and a rental car… there was no doubt in my mind, that means one thing. ROAD TRIP For my husband, who dove a cab for 17 years, that is not really his idea of fun, but to eat…
Celebrating Spring- Exploding
spiders hatching! I arrived home from New Orleans to find an explosion of color in the hills around my home. Not just green, but red too! Italian red poppies What are the poppies already doing out? While I was gone, it rained daily and the sunshine in between, really pumping up the gardens and the…
TASTE- Florence 2008
Every year in Florence, we have an incredible food show called TASTE, wonderful food show of the best products, and events all over town. If you are here, it is worth going to. Davide Paolini, Gastronaut, is the mind behind TASTE. Products are selected to be presented and it is a very excellent selection of…
Making Good Memories
Good Memories sounds much better in Italian, Buon Ricordi. My name is Judy and I have an addiction. There are not a lot of things I can’t live without. After being in Italy for almost 25 years, I can get along without most of the little things in life that I thought I needed. I…
Comfort food
I have been down and out with a bad case of bronchitis. So instead of pleating dumplings in Shanghai with my mom, nephews and friends as planned, I am bedridden. Not sleeping. Not hungry. But feed a cold, starve a fever? Here in Italy, I have adapted to what Italians feed a cold. Instead of…
Not Just Pizza!
The Perfect Recipe for a Good Time 5 days in chianti 2 women chefs, one from France, one from Italy, both Americans Lots of great ingredients from Fabulous Artisans Location, Location, Location Crank up the Heat Oven owner Marcello pre-heated his 300 year old oven for our week Wine Women and Meat! Kate Hill…
Market day Certaldo ( wed)
Mr Cipriani My little village Certaldo has two market days. Wednesday is the larger day when they close down the main road around town by the pool, and have a huge market, the kind with clothes, food, housewares and plants. It was fun to be off work and catch up on town action and gossip….
Wild Boys and Boar!
Yesterday when I was passing by Trattoria Mario’s on the way to the market with my students for class, as we read the menu, we had to go in and see the special of the day. Whenever possible, Romeo Colzi, chef and owner, has something special on the menu. It was Cinghiale, wild boar! There…