An Italian told me that while others eat to live, Italians live to eat, and he said that with his mouth full. Italians will enthusiastically share their restaurant recommendations and family recipes, and even as fast food creeps into their culture, Italians staunchly guard their traditional food products, as witnessed by the founding of the Slow Food movement. A favorite Italian proverb is “A tavola non si invecchia” – at the table one does not age – so relaxed meals are the key to a long life. Our culinary and walking tours in Italy feature authentic regional foods that highlight the amazing variety of dishes in Italy that are profoundly local.
Posted In: Interesting Festivals & Events in Italy, Italian Food Traditions & Recipes
The 2012 International Day of Italian Cuisines (IDIC) is on January 17, when cooks all over the world are invited to join in the celebrations by preparing ossobuco, a traditional dish from Milan. Try our ossobuco recipe.
Continue Reading »Posted In: Hiking & Walking Trails in Italy, Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy
When you hear vendors hollering “bastardoni” in Sicily, it’s the season for the prickly pears known as “big bastards.” Legend has it that this traditional food found in markets in Italy is the result of a feud.
Continue Reading »Posted In: Hiking & Walking Trails in Italy, Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Provocative People & Cool Places in Italy, Stories of Life in Tuscany & Sicily
New fixed-price menus at lunch are an enticement for discerning diners at the 2-star Michelin restaurant Il Duomo in Ragusa Sicily. They’re a great way to sample chef Ciccio Sultano’s superb cooking.
Continue Reading »Posted In: Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Stories of Life in Tuscany & Sicily
In the midst of trendy cookbooks about Tuscany, Cucina Povera by Pamela Sheldon Johns stands out as being the genuine article, with authentic recipes of Tuscan peasant cooking and personal anecdotes based on the author’s experience living in Tuscany. Ricotta cake recipe included.
Continue Reading »Posted In: Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Stories of Life in Tuscany & Sicily
The trials and tribulations of making the perfect latte di mandorla, with this traditional almond milk recipe from Sicily.
Continue Reading »Posted In: Hip Trip Tips for Travel in Italy, Interesting Festivals & Events in Italy, Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Stories of Life in Tuscany & Sicily
The almond harvest in Sicily at the Mastri di San Basilio farm takes place at the height of summer. Join Anita as she ventures into the August heat in search of pizzuta almonds fresh off the tree.
Continue Reading »Posted In: Italian Food Traditions & Recipes
An easy recipe for pasta with capers and olives is a traditional Italian dish, that can be enriched with tuna, and made quickly for unexpected guests.
Continue Reading »Posted In: Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Stories of Life in Tuscany & Sicily
When the hot summer is in full swing, capers spring to life. Follow an Italian food tradtion and learn how to pick and preserve capers in salt.
Continue Reading »Posted In: Hiking & Walking Trails in Italy, Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Travel Notes from Tours in Italy
We made sure that our Pleasures of Puglia tour will run smoothly, by taking a trip to Puglia and Basilicata to go over everything on this culinary tour. Here are a few photos of places we visited – I want the food to be a surprise when you get here!
Continue Reading »Posted In: Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Stories of Life in Tuscany & Sicily
Sciroppo di amarene is a tart cherry syrup made from sour cherries and makes a refreshing summertime drink. Traditional in Italy as a beverage or to flavor a grattachecca snow cone.
Continue Reading »Posted In: Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Stories of Life in Tuscany & Sicily
When sour cherries are plentiful, try making a simple rustic cake with the added crunch of almonds. Name it torta di amarene con mandorle and you’ve got yourself an Italian dessert. Here’s the recipe.
Continue Reading »Posted In: Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy
Colomba pasquale, an Italian Easter cake usually shaped like a dove, is one of the foods traditionally served at an Easter meal in Italy…and leftovers are great with cappuccino the next morning. Read on to learn how to make this delicious cake with a home-tested recipe.
Continue Reading »