Dario Cecchini Panzano is a tiny village in the middle of the rolling hills of central Tuscany. There’s nothing too exciting here except for one very unique butcher shop and its accompanying restaurants.Cecchini is run by the now infamous Dante quoting butcher Dario Cecchini, a giant of a man with hands like baseball gloves and […]
An Epic Adventure: a visit to Casamonti Estate
Leaving San Marino If you miss a turn in Italy it can be the best thing to happen or the worst. Leaving San Marino we did just that and managed to turn a 2 1/2 hour drive into an epic adventure. It was a beautiful sunny day and we ended up on a small provincial […]
Happy 145th Birthday Canada! – PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED BOCCONCINI
Happy 145th birthday Canada This weekend Canada will celebrate its 145th birthday. To mark the occasion we have a quick and versatile recipe good enough for an elegant starter, a snack or potluck. Family style I serve this up family-style on a bed of mixed greens with chopped tomato and crostini. Include some basil leaves […]
Eating, Sleeping & Making Love – PASSATELLI
Maestro Federico Fellini Maestro Federico Fellini is definitely Italy’s most famous movie director. Over his forty year career he was nominated for twelve Oscars and was awarded five. Movies like La Strada, 8 1/2, La Dolce Vita and Amarcord captured life in a profound way, sometimes blurring the line between dream and reality. To capture […]
Rimini More Than Just A Beach Town – PIADINA
Beach vacations Beach vacations aren’t for everyone but the hundreds of thousands of beach chairs in Rimini are proof that many people enjoy the sand and sea. There are over 100 bagni (plural of bagno, Italian for beach), pick one, go to the booth and pay, then someone will show you to your chair. You […]
Base Camp Rimini: 3 easy day-trips
Day-trips Rimini is the perfect base camp for many day-trips. Whether you are staying in the town centre or near the beach, the train and bus station are a short city bus or walk away. You can leave in the morning and be back by dinner time to enjoy seafood on the beach. Here are […]
Nice Legs! a visit to a Prosciutto di Parma factory
Ristorante Cocchi Just as we finished up our delicious lunch at Ristorante Cocchi, which included fried zucchini blossoms filled with vegetables mozzarella and sardines and braised stuffed veal breast, our guide for the afternoon, Mirca, arrived to whisk us away to the Parma hillside. San Pietro Prosciutteria Nestled in its own microclimate where the dry […]
The Big Wheel In Parma
Parma We woke up early to catch the train out of Rimini up to Parma where our guide for the morning, Giovanna, was waiting for us at the station. Our hosts at Emilia-Romagna Tourism had really pulled some strings for us and had planned a very exciting day. Thanks to the generosity of the Consorzio […]