What I love to see in a cookbook are stories that give context and history to the recipes, great photographs that help tell the recipe stories, and recipes that are clear and simple and easy to follow. Liguria is a cookbook that ticks all these boxes. About Laurel Evans Laurel Evans is an award-winning cookbook...
Food & Wine
American Academy & the Rome Sustainable Food Program
The Rome Sustainable Food Program (RSFP) at the American Academy prepares community style daily meals for the fellows and also maintains a rich organic garden and orchard. Head chef Kyle Pierce and I chatted about the Academy, the RSFP kitchen and garden, and the RSFP food philosophy and internship program. About Kyle Pierce Kyle first...
Roast Pig is the NEW Roast Turkey this Thanksgiving holiday
It's time to make the leap in 2021 for a Thanksgiving and holiday menu change: choose Roast Pig as the NEW Roast Turkey this year, and give your menu an Italian flare. There are lots of reasons for this menu change not the least of which is that this year turkeys are in short supply...
Culinary Walking Tour of Rome
The highlights of today’s Flavor of Italy Culinary Walking Tour of Rome with author and NYT food & travel writer Andrew Cotto centered on the Campo dei Fiori market area of Rome. Each culinary walking tour is slightly different but always focuses on the very best of Italian, and Roman, cuisine. The Campo dei Fiori...
Sicilian Food & the Monsù Cuisine
The history of the monsù cuisine in Sicily dates back to the 17th century when French nobility traveled to Sicily, along with their chefs (the monsù), who created a fusion of elegant and refined French food with luscious, agriculturally based Sicilian dishes. About Angela Macaluso Angela is Sicilian born and has been living in Cefalù...
Calabrian Citrons, ancient and aromatic
Citrons, the most ancient and aromatic citrus fruit, first came to Italy in 200 BC. It has almost no juice but the perfume and aroma of the peel and thick pulp make it perfect for candied fruit and other culinary uses, not to mention its importance for the Hebrew harvest festival Succoth.Calabrian tour guide and...
The annual Peperoncino Festival in Diamante, Calabria
The annual Peperoncino Festival in Diamante, Calabria is a celebration of the local hot chili pepper, the Diavolicchio Diamante. Calabrian tour guide Nunzia Bruno and I chatted about the festival and the world famous Diavolicchio Diamante peperoncino. About Nunzia Annunziata Bruno (Nunzia), was born and raised in Calabria. She's a private tour guide throughout the...
Artisanal organic cheese at the Alba Farm in Molise
Artisanal organic cheese made at the Alba Farm in the hinterland of the tiny Molise region is outstanding and a visit to the Alba Farm for a cheese tasting and tour is a must. Where is the Alba Farm and where is the Molise region? The Molise region borders four Italian regions: Abruzzo to the...
Dante and the 700 year old Alighieri Wine Estate
At the Dante Alighieri wine estate, Possessione Casal dei Ronchi, the Alighieri's have been making excellent Valpolicello and Amarone wine for the past 700 years. Today Cynthia Chaplin, sommelier and wine connoisseur, and I chatted about Dante and the Alighieri wine estate, and the fabulous wines produced in this region. Find out more about Cynthia...
Spannocchia: an exquisite 13th century estate in Tuscany
If you're looking for a spectacular holiday at a breathtaking estate in Tuscany with outstanding food and wine just a short drive to both Siena and Florence then look no further than Spannocchia.Randall Stratton and I chatted about this spectacular estate he and his wife Francesca own and operate. Spannocchia has been owned and run...
Italian Sandwiches & Panini
Sandwiches and panini are a mainstay of Italian cuisine, and worldwide. Take a look at this deep dive into beloved sandwiches and panini, plus my top 10 must-try sandwiches and panini when you visit Italy. What are sandwiches? A sandwich is any food - typically vegetables, sliced cheese and meat - placed between two slices...
Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyard & Malvasia di Candia Aromatica Wines
Today Cynthia Chaplin (Vinitaly International Italian Wine Ambassador, sommelier, educator, writer, presenter, translator, judge) and I chatted about the Leonardo da Vinci Vineyard & Malvasia di Candia Aromatica Wines: the "wine" side of the genius you may not be aware of. About the Vineyard & the Malvasia di Candia Aromatica grape The genius of Leonardo...