Not living near the beach- summer does nothing for me. Living in Tuscany in the middle of olive groves and vineyards- Fall is when the countryside springs to life. Crisp cool evenings make me crave stews and vegetables roasted with herbs. Pumpkins and squashes are filling the markets for ravioli and soups, roasting and gnocchi….
Taking Divina Cucina on the Road
Rancho Casa Luna- San Miquel D’Allende For years my husband and I would spend a month or two in Mexico in winter, saving big bucks on heating a large stone apartment with high ceilings in Florence. For those of us in the tourism business, we have nothing to do most of the winter. It made…
Pigging Out – again!
Mannetti family has been butchers in the Central Market since 1865Kate and I are celebrating the pig again- We were thrilled to be included in the Best of the Web on Saveurs site. There is a pig recipe for all seasons and summer calls for the grill! Nothing could be easier- we don’t marinade the…
Lunch at La Petraia with Michael Pollan
Entrance to La Petraia, cypress and fields of lavendar I was thrilled to be invited to one of the days of Michael Pollan‘s week-long program at La Petraia, an organic farm and B&B in Chianti. The trip was organized by Truffle Pig Travel and from the looks of the group that attended, it was the…
Oggi Sciopero-Italy strike against DDL Alfano- SPEAK OUT
It will be the first strike of bloggers ever.On July 14, 2009, Italian bloggers will muzzle themselves in the Web as wellas in Piazza Navona in Rome, at 7PM where they will meet to protest againstan Italian government bill (the Alfano decree) introducing a number of newrules which will limit the freedom of expression in…
June 24th- St John the Baptist- Florence’s Patron Saint
There is nothing like being in an Italian town when it is celebrating.Florence’s patron saint, John the Baptist, is celebrated June 24th. Here is a small taste of the parade! It is also when we make Nocino, with unripe green walnuts. So now that I am living in the countryside- I will gather my walnuts,…
Bite-size Meatloafs: Polpettine
In the 25 years I have been living in Italy, I have NEVER seen spaghetti and meatballs served anywhere. In Tuscany we have polpettine, small meatloaves, Polpettone being a meatloaf: the ini ending means small and one– big! Summer’s heat requires light foods and things which taste good at room temperature as well as cold….
Trapani and the West Coast Tour
Sometimes I have to travel for work, I know, it is tough living in Italy. We all make choices for the life we have. This is mine. I have always spent the small amount of money I have for travel- now I have a little more than when I was younger, but still am frugal….