The Vicidomini family has been making pasta since 1812. Today you can still find them in the city center of Castel San Giorgio; a small town in the province of Salerno. Luigi and Mario Vicidomini are sixth generation pasta artisans. Together with their wife and children they still produce pasta respecting the family tradition. Read More…
It’s not an Italian Christmas without a Panettone
2In Italy, traditionally you eat a Panettone on Christmas day after a plentiful lunch. It’s a sweet pastry with candied fruits. Even weeks before, the stores and supermarkets are packed with colorfully wrapped panettone. Read More…
Dolci & Dolcezze: perfect pastries in Florence Tuscany
2I have never been a true lover of pies. But that’s the thing with living in Italy: you end up changing your mind about food. A good friend introduced me to Dolci & Dolcezze: a small pastry store in Piazza Beccaria, only a two minutes walk from the Sant’ Ambrogio food market. Read More…
Andrea Bianchini: Master of chocolate
2To be in love with your job is happiness. Andrea Bianchini looks to be a very happy man. He fell in love with chocolate at the age of 14, and has never thought of being anything else then a chocolate maker. I meet him in his tiny ‘laboratorio’ steps away from the San’t Ambrogio market. Read More…
Mimmo La Vecchia: Master of Mozzarella
7We are driving through the green hills of Caserta. It’s easy to get lost here: no gps signal and no road signs. Only locals on this road, and they are telling us to go straight …always. Easier said then done. We finally get to Caseificio Il Casolare where we meet master cheese maker, Mimmo La Vecchia [short for Domenico]. Mimmo has one of the best smiles I have ever seen. We meet his family: wife, son and daughter; they all work in the family business. Read More…
The Art of Balsamico
0I met Cristina Crotti for the first time at Taste. Her bright smile immediately caught my attention: she was the first portrait I took that day. A few weeks later she invited me to her Borgo del Balsamico. Located in the heart of Reggio Emilia, it’s a fairytale setting. You sense something special immediately. Her father started producing balsamic vinegar as a hobby; experimenting with its flavors, but retaining the tradition. Read More…
In great company: Tenuta Dell’ Ornellaia
2A wine bottle can hold a story that is difficult to unravel. Fortunately there are people like Sergio Di Loreto who made wine their passion, and who enjoy sharing their discoveries. A few weeks ago, he was so kind to invite me for a visit at the acclaimed Ornellaia winery. Read More…
Family style: Savigni Macelleria and Azienda Agricola
0There’s nothing more organic than family. In a way, your family defines who you are and what you do. In Italy, it’s also the foundation of numerous food producers. I spent last Saturday with the Savigni’s, owners of Macelleria Savigni in Pavana Pistoiese. Read More…
Drink Different
0For most of us, too much alcohol makes us irresponsible. For Iacopo Lenci, founder of the Brùton brewery in Lucca, it was quite the opposite. It gave him a livelihood. Read More…
The Bio of Taste
3Food is the new Fashion. There are a lot of similarities: the excitement that comes with a new season; the new, celebrity ‘designers;’ foodies or fashionistas; the mix and match of an unexpected combination that can blow your mind. The iconic Pitti Immagine group held their annual gastronomic catwalk last week in Firenze, the 7th Pitti Taste. Read More…
La Dolce Toscana: Torta Pistocchi
11Being Belgian, I have to admit I am a bit of a chocolate snob. I have a ‘dark’ side inside. I heard about this mysterious ‘Torta Pistocchi,’ but had a few reservations. What I discovered was a perfect treat for any chocolate addict. Read More…
Cheese tasting @ Fattoria Corzano e Paterno
1Mozzarella and Parmigiano might be Italy’s most legendary cheeses; in Tuscany, Pecorino Toscano rules the scene. Pecorino is made from sheep’s milk [the word for sheep in Italian is ‘pecora’] and is typically produced between November and late June. Today I am super excited to visit acclaimed producer Fattoria Corzano e Paterno: their artisanal cheeses are sought-after by international chefs, cheese lovers and the top restaurants in Florence. Read More…
