You may be thinking it’s too early to start a new bucket for your trip to Italy, but it’s actually the perfect time. Yesterday Italy opened up after months of lockdown, including churches and museums, so it’s the perfect time to get a jump on your Italy travel plans. Irene Quinn from the Bella Giornata…
Week Trips
The Lunigiana, its history and its food – Podcast Episode 8
In today’s Flavor of Italy Podcast – Episode 8, James Martin – travel writer, photographer and all around expert in off the beaten track spots in Italy – shared fascinating details about the Lunigiana in upper Tuscany. The Lunigiana, where James & his wife Martha Bakergian have a home and spend five months every year,…
Peperoncini and ‘Nduja, the darlings of Calabrian Cuisine – Podcast Episode 7
Peperoncini – hot chili peppers – and ‘Nduja, the darlings of Calabrian Cuisine, are used to add delightful heat to dishes in Calabria and throughout Italy. Italians add heat to their food with peperoncini, or hot chili pepper. The peperoncino is a mainstay in Calabrese cuisine and is celebrated each September in the lovely coastal…
Coronavirus Lockdown in Italy
How the coronavirus led to a lockdown in Italy Today is our third day of total and complete lockdown. A few days back all of Italy became a “red zone”: everyone should have been at home minimizing contact with others. This was basically respected, but as restaurants and other businesses were open during the day…
Explore Puglia with me!
There’s no two ways about it: Puglia is a culinary, cultural and photographic extravaganza. Because of Covid our May 2020 trip was postponed to May 2021! And if you would like to set up your own private trip to Puglia let me know. I’ll share it all with you in a deep dive into the…
Weeklong Food Holiday in Magical Capri
Mythical, Magical & Mysterious Capri, Homer’s Ulysses knew this island paradise. Roman emperors built pleasure palaces here. Absolutely one of the most sensuous spots on the face of the earth, this enchanted isle has beguiled travelers – emperors and plebeians alike – for thousands of years. The luminescent Blue Grotto, the landmark Faraglioni rocks, the…
Mozzarella production, a medieval hill town & a winery visit
The morning starts with a visit to one of my favorite of wonderful small artisan mozzarella di bufala and ricotta cheese producers in the area. We’ll observe the mozzarella cheese making process and learn why this cheese is so fabulous and cannot be produced elsewhere – not even in most of Italy! We’ll have lunch…
Flavor of Calabria
The Calabrian region extends several hundred miles along the Mediterranean coast in southern Italy, reaching up into the mountains and to the Ionic coast. Calabria is famous for its peperoncino (hot pepper), and this week you will learn how this spice can complement any dish, even dessert. Their award-winning crostata del diavolo is a delicious…
Flavor of Sicily
Your accommodation is just minutes from Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples. The oldest part of the structure is the 13th-century tower, and over the centuries more buildings have been added. Now the property is a country inn that maintains the flavor of Sicily from many centuries ago. The many terraces and gardens are lush…
Photography and Food
Following is information on our weeklong food photography event in Tuscany. Keep your eyes peeled and ready for our Puglia food & food photography week! Details will be available by November 15, 2019. Space is limited so plan to book soon! Get ready to experience Rome’s dolce vita with Flavor of Italy and renowned food…
A Flavor of Le Marche
Cathedrals, castles and ancient fortresses, bustling cities and idyllic resorts provide the perfect complement to a landscape bursting with flora and fauna, rugged gorges, underground caverns, serene mountain lanes and, of course, picturesque views of the shimmering sea. Yet, for all its allure Le Marche remains largely undiscovered, and unspoiled, by international tourism. For the…
Sperlonga – A Seafood Haven
Sperlonga – a Seafood Heaven Sperlonga, located midway between Rome and Naples, is easily accessible by both train and automobile. Yet, the charming hilltop town – featuring a maze of steep passageways and arches that open up suddenly to views of the deep blue Tyrrhenian Sea – is reachable only on foot. Accommodation is comprised…