Guilty in Bologna I have been feeling a little bit guilty of not updating our blog as often as I would like, just a little. On previous trips, we often stopped to write, in hindsight we feel that it broke up the continuity of our experiences. This time we decided to enjoy every minute and write when we can. […]
We love Orvieto
Amazing beauty We love Orvieto for its amazing beauty and stunning hilltop views overlooking the green heart of Italy, Umbria. Our stay this time was a week, to unwind and prepare for our upcoming schedule. A quick romp A quick romp through Ottawa back home, taking care of business, a lost bag and delay in […]
Visiting the Colosseum & Ancient Rome with LivItaly Tours
LivItaly Tours When I booked a tour with LivItaly Tours, I didn’t realize it was the morning after we would be attending a birthday party for our good friend Linda from the Beehive. We decided we would walk across town to and from the party on a barge on the Tiber. Getting back to our […]
Va Bene, capturing the flavours of traveling through Italy
VaBene A Cook Not Mad is heading to Northern Italy on another exciting tour. After logging thousands of miles, pictures and hundreds of recipes on previous trips to Italy the idea for our new book, Va Bene, was born. This trip will find us visiting some of our favourite spots and discovering plenty of new […]
Simple crostini toppings
Simple crostini toppings The holidays can be overwhelming with all the shopping that needs to be done and socializing that is expected but it doesn’t need to be that way. If you’re hosting a get together, plan something simple but elegant like a cocktail party. If you don’t have a well stocked bar you could […]
Making fresh pasta at home
Making fresh pasta at home Too often in America we eat without thinking, we buy over packaged, prepared foods and don’t always think about what we ingest. Some people eat strictly for fuel, not for enjoyment. In Italy, if you’re not eating, you’re talking about your next meal and it’s quite normal to spend a […]
A Day of Butchery at Casamonti – Part 2
Freshly fallen snow Early the next morning we made our way back to Casamonti Estate, through a couple of inches of freshly fallen snow that carpeted the vineyards and rolling hills of Chianti. Alvaro and Silvano were already in the norceria and as we pulled in, we saw Massimo wave, while escorting a huge male […]
A Day of Butchery at Casamonti – Part 1
Cinta Senese During our first trip to Italy, we met Ray and Anna Rita, owners of Casamonti estates, an unbelievably beautiful property in the Chianti region of Tuscany. Their operation offers a triple threat of sensational wine, olive oil and prized Cinta Senese pigs. It was the Cintas that originally drew us to Casamonti, to sample the sublime […]