I think EVERYONE in Italy has an “orto“, a small vegetable garden, if not at their home, somewhere. As I take the train from Certaldo into Florence, I see thousands of vegetable gardens all along the tracks, some on real gardens others it looks like on confiscated land. Nothing is more important than food in…
Learning the Moves
Not being born Italian, but rather adopting Italy as my home and being adopted has been a fabulous experience. I was just asked today if I taught my students Americanized Tuscan food.WHAT??? NO WAY—- I want my students to go home and create better Tuscan food than a restaurant, since they are learning to cook…
Sex and Zucchini- a 101 on blossoms
Recently the question of which blossoms to fry for zucchini has come up on twitter and facebook conversations. Few people know that the blossoms without a zucchini are male, those with a zucchini are female. On the left side are girls- with zucchinis attached- and on the right boys- stems only Look inside Girls have…
Day-Tripping: Rome
Rome’s Unknown Soldier’s TombI love day-tripping- although it can be exhausting- when I can, I go. This trip was to visit my friend from Paris, David Lebovitz, who was in Rome doing Gelato tours for Context and a book signing party for the release of his new dessert cookbook. I couldn’t make it down for…
Certaldo- Home Sweet Home
Since moving to Certaldo, but working in Florence, it has not really seemed a home. Now that I am teaching cooking classes at Villa il Poggiolaia it has finally become home. Having more time here has allowed us to finally plant an orto , our own vegetable garden. We ate our first peas last week…
Heading Home to Tuscany
Steve Sando and Judy at the Rancho Gordo demo My long tour comes to an end and I took a couple of hours to just sit by the ocean and breathe. People always ask me if I miss living in California- so much of the scenery is the same but there is no ocean. I…
On the Road- Seattle and Bellevue
Seattle has been a whirlwind trip- I was lucky enough to be able to attend one of my student’s graduation from Cordon Bleu in Seattle. After her trip to Tuscany a couple of years ago- she came home quit her job and followed her heart- getting a culinary degree. We have been dining and feasting…
More Than 18 Reasons in SF
the 18 reaons space on 18th and Guerrero in SFI love all the new alternative places that are opening up around the world to share the dining experience- hidden kitchens, secret suppers, dining in private homes instead of restaurants. In our society today, sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the fast-paced race…