Barga We visited Barga last year with only enough time for a couple of hours of exploration but that was enough to ensure our return. There is something about this little walled village sitting on a hill looking out over the Serchio Valley that wants you to slow down, breath and stay a while. The […]
European Markets Part One – CREAMED CHANTERELLES ON TOAST
Eating at restaurants If you’re travelling for any length of time, eating at restaurants gets a little tedious and expensive. If you want to save a few dollars and aren’t interested in eating fast food or street food every day, you can save some cash by renting a room with a kitchenette. You can often […]
Cooking For Italians
Foodie International We headed up to Elyse’s place (from Foodie International) for a welcome glass of wine and to see her recently renovated 200 year old stone house. Perched a couple of hundred feet up from the agriturismo her amazing Italian home has even more stunning views than our sweet accommodations below. A quick tour of […]
Twilight in Volterra – FARRO FOCACCIA
A short drive from Castellina lies the medieval town of Volterra made famous most recently as one of the locations for the movie series Twilight. One of the larger walled towns that we have visited, Volterra has a number of beautiful streets, museums and attractions that are steeped in history, including the ruins of a […]
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 […]
TAGLIATELLE AL RAGU
Tagliatelle al Ragu As promised we have investigated (thoroughly) the makings of a proper Bolognese sauce and we can now tell you definitively that there is no such thing as “Bolognese” sauce, kind of. In fact, what is known in the rest of the world as Bolognese sauce or spaghetti Bolognese (spag bol for you […]