60 Million Olive Trees… One for Each of Italy’s 60 Million People… But Who’s Counting? Puglia’s relationship with olive trees
June 30 2015 / Places
The Italian Dolomites, Summer and Winter
Dolomiti, Trentino Alto-Adige
As a place to visit, the Italian Dolomites have everything to recommend them no matter what season you visit. Located
June 4 2015 / Local Interest
Exploring Scheggino
Scheggino, Umbria
Inspired by Anne Robichaud, intrepid guide to all wonders Umbrian, we hopped in the car and travelled to Scheggino. We
May 20 2015 / Events
Floral Passione Explodes in Bucchianico (part II)
Bucchianico, Abruzzo
(…cont’d from here.) The banquet that day was just one of many banquets – for about 700 – which take
May 19 2015 / Events
Floral Passione Explodes in Bucchianico
Bucchianico, Abruzzo
Floral eruption? Floral euphoria? An explosion of flowers? Floral delirium? Futile attempts to describe Bucchianico’s chromatic splendor, la Ciammaichella procession
May 1 2015 / Events
Primo Maggio
Rome, Italy
In Italy il Primo Maggio (May First, aka May day) means many different things depending on whom you’re asking. To
April 3 2015 / Events
Auguri di Pasqua
Italy
Hardly an interaction with someone occurs today without a heartfelt exchange of wishes. Auguri di Pasqua (Easter wishes) are exchanged
March 12 2015 / Food & Wine
More than a Snack, this “Ciancino”
San Macario in Piano, Tuscany
West of Lucca in this nondescript village, you’ll note a rotund wine cask on the right with vino sfuso (wine by
March 11 2015 / Local Interest
Valter’s “Magnetic” Miniatures
Rome, Lazio
FYI: ItalianNotebook is selling the items mentioned in this note on our online store, ItalianConnections. Given the amount of products that
February 19 2015 / Events
Finita la Festa…
Italy
That is not snow, but Carnevale detritus. Throughout town every crack in the sidewalks and space between cobblestones have become
February 13 2015 / Local Interest
Heart and Soul of the Farmhouse Kitchen
Umbria
Winter weather predictions warn: “le irruzioni fredde sull’Italia potranno risultare particolarmente intense” (to sum it up, intense cold due). More
February 5 2015 / Food & Wine
Emergenza!
Rome, Italy
Uh-oh… nothing in the fridge except the usual suspects. Some bread, half a lemon, a miserable piece of butter (in
January 13 2015 / Local Interest
Gli Avanzi Natalizi…
Italy
For weeks they were the pride of the aisles! Front stage center, there was no doubt about who played the
December 9 2014 / Events
Sorrento Off Season
Sorrento, Campania
Traveling off season has many perks, among them unexpected meetings and discoveries such as those enjoyed in Sorrento a few weeks ago. Thanks
December 5 2014 / Food & Wine
Savouring Venice
Venice, Veneto
Last week I joined a Venice food tour of the Rialto Markets and cicchetti tasting with wine. Many of you
December 4 2014 / Places
Piazza Nuova
Bagnacavallo, Emilia-Romagna
The ever laborious and pragmatic Romagnoli are responsible for this commercial real estate development. In this case, the Anziani (Elders)
November 25 2014 / Events
Celebrating l’Albero del Pane
San Martino, Umbria
Rural people baptized it l’albero del pane (“the bread tree”) for this tree grew on the mountains where wheat would not grow (and if
November 17 2014 / Food & Wine
Fall Flavors – Pappardelle
Palombara Sabina, Lazio
No autumn is complete without at least one trip to the countryside north of Rome to catch some fresh air,
October 28 2014 / Food & Wine
The Art of Ordering Prosciutto…
Rome, Lazio
Easy, right? Hmmm… but do you want crudo or cotto? (cured or cooked, respectively) Do you need it for cooking,
October 24 2014 / Food & Wine
Gorga – Milking Time!
Gorga, Lazio
A bandana on his head to hold back dripping sweat, Giulio sat on the steps just outside the family caseificio
October 14 2014 / Places
Mussolinia
Arborea, Sardegna
“Nieddittas” our friendly host told us, “Take the cozze di Arborea, those are the best.” We had asked him which
October 13 2014 / Local Interest
Ottobrata Romana
Rome, Italy
To this day people refer to the ottobrata romana (Roman October) when speaking of a mild, still warm autumn day.
October 9 2014 / Places
Ventotene Checklist
Ventotene, Lazio
Before you leave for a few days on paradiso, aka the island of Ventotene, you’ll probably want to jot down a
August 7 2014 / Food & Wine
Make it Peachy!
Italy
Back in our “farming years,” we’d ride our old Gilera motorcycle to nearby Bettona for peach-picking in July. I’d rather