Casa del vino was love at first sight: hidden behind the San Lorenzo market stalls with it’s ‘vetrina’ filled with delicious crostini, timeless wood carved décor and marble counter top. Every morning Nicoletta and Lucilla prepare the ingredients for the toothsome ‘paninis’: salsa verde, herbed chickpea & baccala’ [salted cod] salad, ‘insalata di trippa’, etc. Read More…
Wine Bar Le volpi e l’uva
4Florence has many wine bars. Le Volpi e l’Uva is one that should not be missed. Take your seat at the bar or on the terrace, and choose from a weekly changing degustation menu of French and Italian wines. Apart from a collection of more acclaimed wines, you can also find an interesting selection of smaller winemakers. The quality and ‘off the beaten track’ selection is what makes this place so special. Ciro Beligni and this two associates tour the country in a search for exceptional wines.
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…
Cetara: a tiny Almalfi coast town famous for its ‘colatura di alici’ (salted anchovies delicacy)
0Cetara is a teensy fisherman village off the breathtaking Almalfi coastal drive. It’s a hidden gem, thankfully neglected by the mass tourism. After a short descent through the town’s narrow main street, we park our car near the fishing harbor. Cetara is a place where people are still traditional fisherman and the local grocery stores did not make room for souvenir shops. Read More…
A Florentine Classic: Trattoria Mario
2Usually when I see a long waiting line, I make a turn and try my luck some other time. With Trattoria Mario it’s quite another story. Adding yourself to the queue of patient diners is part of the charm. It’s not only the promise of a yummy Tuscan lunch that makes you stand in line. It’s also a place where you feel welcome, not matter if you are a Florentine or a foreigner. 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…
Franco Pepe: Pizza Craftsman
2Franco Pepe spent most of his childhood in his family’s pizzeria in the tiny town of Caiazzo. While his friends were vacationing at the beach, Franco was helping his father. That sacrifice has paid off. Today, Franco Pepe is considered one of the best pizza makers in Italy. Antonio Lucisano , Director of Consorzio della Mozzarella di Buffala D.O.P., introduces him as ‘the philosopher of pizza.’ I am ready to be indoctrinated. Read More…
Never give up
3A few weeks ago personal chef Arturo Dori and I decided to collaborate on a photo story for The Curious Eater. The setting for the shoot was his private home. On the menu his elegant interpretation of a classic Tuscan ingredient: pigeon. 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…
