Sometimes I am inspired by seasonal foods to cook and create. Other times, life just calls out for simple. Where I live in Tuscany, an over-sized spinach and ricotta filled ravioli is called Ravioli alla Maremmana, Maremma-style ravioli’s. As spring has just arrived, young spinach is a natural filling with ricotta for ravioli and also…
Father’s day in Italy- March 19th
Everyone was asking me what I was doing for Saint Patrick’s day here in Italy.NOTHING… I could hang out with American college kids drinking green beer I suppose, but never really did when I was in college. But there is always some celebration going on in Italy and here March 19th is Father’s day. San…
I heart Markets-
Finally over jetlag, we hit the Saturday market at nearby Castelfiorentino. We picked up our parmesan from the same guy, who always gives us huge shards to taste as we wait. The price is incredible, only 14 euro per kilo for three year old cheese. We also could not resist buying a whole guanciale from…
Finalemente- back online and home
Leaving Tuscany in winter and returning to find spring is one of the greatest joys.My wild violets are blooming and the first irises are showing their purple glory. The trip to the West Coast was a huge success and perfect timing as winter in Tuscany is slow to say the least. I enjoyed the travel…
Good News- Bad News
Well. long story short.Someone stole my laptop at the Whole Foods parking lot in Pacific Palisades!Thank god, my external hard drive was in another bag.Who knows what else was in the computer bag which was in another bag.I will find out slowly what I lost. ( foto above, Emanuelle at my dinner at Angeli Caffe…
Diva in Sonoma-
People often ask me if I ever get homesick for California. Tuscany is so similar to the California wine country that I don’t miss it at all. This was our first view driving from Napa over to Sonoma where I am teaching for three days at Ramekins. The hills looked like early spring, lush green…
Minute at the Market- Bologna
Walking into a shop with a wall like this is heaven for a foodie!Todays little film is in the heart of downtown Bologna- a culinary paradise! Emilia Romagna is home to most of Italy’s claim to culinary fame, including Parmesan Cheese, Prosciutto di Parma and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar from Modena and Reggio Emilia. In the…
A Minute at the Market- Castelfiorentino
One of my favorite moments of the living in Italy is shopping at the weekly market. Now that we live full time in the countryside outside of Florence, I miss the Central Market. We do go to the local COOP grocery store for basics and to the village shops for fresh goods. I am lucky…