Here we go again. The news are not good; Not only the virus is back again, but it is growing with alarming speed. It is not funny! And with the contagion numbers growing, there are new restrictions. Not as strict as in Feb-March of this year but still nothing to be happy about. It is […]
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Foliage is a magical word, just by pronouncing it we are enveloped by that wonderful feeling that only autumn can give us. That sensation caused by the scent of chestnuts, the first heat of the fireplace, and the scent of citrus. I must say that nothing beats the majestic USA foliage display. It is just […]
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As COVID is back let’s start baking again… Not a Cake, but a Soft Focaccia Soft focaccia with carrots: easy and light recipe with no eggs, no butter, just a little flour, yeast, a couple of grated carrots and a few leaves of thyme to bring to the table a soft orange-colored focaccia, just in […]
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COVID is Back with Revenge Not as drammatic as in France, but still worrisome. See the graphic below dated October 11th. Once again the region with the highest rate of infection is Lombardy, the Veneto region is also high up. While the cities with most infections are: Milan (again); Torino; Brescia; Bergamo (again); Rome; Naples; […]
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The Thorny Issue of Spaghetti & Meatballs This dish that is the most loved one by Americans of all ages—it ranks 14th as most iconic food on a Huffingtonpost poll! Italians claim they never saw it here (and so did I…), although I debated my thesis in MEATBALLS: WITH OR WITHOUT SPAGHETTI. But let’s be honest.., […]
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When there were impossible crowds in Venice, Murano was a great escape. It is still a great place to go to. In Murano, like in Venice the consequences of COVID are severe; very much so. Although walking the streets and visiting the famous sites is more pleasant now, it is painful to see their empty […]
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Time to Draw those Bridges! Done with the battles, territories defended, done with Guelphs and Ghibellines, done also with feudal lords and dark Middle Ages, courts and cannons all are finished; now Italy finds itself with a landscape full of very beautiful castles too often forgotten. An Italian Treasure to Discover Castles are a unique […]
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Why Are So Many Fascist Monuments Still Standing in Italy? That is the question that Ruth Ben-Ghiat wondered about on an article (in October 5, 2017), for The New Yorker. She asked why in Italy buildings and monuments of the Mussolini era still shown off. I am not so sure that we can easily say […]
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Parmigiano Reggiano & Grana Padano Do you know what are the differences between Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano? At first sight they might look like similar cheeses, but it is not the case. The two generate some confusion, although Grana Padano PDO is more popular and exports more than Parmigiano Reggiano PDO. But usually everything […]
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During my latest boat trip on the Venetian Laguna, I admired the “Six Pairs of Hands” at the Arsenale. They are quite visible from afar, and they are supposed to be admired also by the Biennale visitors. In 2019, at the “Arsenale”, a gigantic installation consisting of 6 pairs of hands that start from the […]
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Boletus edulis: “A fungus that grows in deciduous and coniferous forests and tree plantations.” But we prefer to call it Porcino. It seems less intellectual and more edible! Porcino is a prized ingredient in various culinary dishes, it is held in high regard in Italian cuisine mostly in the northern area, where Porcini are found […]
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Villain = noun a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel. While in Italian the meaning is a little less categorical: Villano / vil·là · no / = adjective and masculine noun 1. masculine noun = Rude and ignorant person: “è un villano fatto e finito (he is […]
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