Month: June 2014

View of Ponte Vecchio, Florence Italy, Looking Down the Arno
My Stories

Farewell to Firenze

Our fourth trip to Italy included Rome and Tuscany.  Tuscany was a bit poignant for us. We spent our first two weeks in Rome and were thrilled to be heading back to Tuscany where we had rented an apartment in Panzano in Chianti for two weeks but we also knew that it was unlikely we would return to this part of Italy again only because there are other […]

Blog Post Photo, Lunch La Locanda di Pietraculpa, San Donato, Tuscany, Italy
My Stories

A Stroke of Luck

It’s our first Monday in paradise, aka. Chianti! Wonder what we’ll do today and especially, what’s for lunch?? Let’s just head towards Castellina in Chianti and check things out there, i.e. Enoteca Biologica on via c. Borgheri, where we bought some amazing Vin Santo a few years ago? The upshot being that the place seems […]

Blog Post Photo, Save Money, Blog Post Photo Make the Basics. Farmer's Market Herbs
My Stories

Why I Use Fresh Herbs

Using fresh herbs instead of dried ones adds a different dimension to your cooking. It is quite amazing the different nuances that fresh herbs lend to a dish. I like to grow rosemary, basil, flat-leaf parsley, thyme, oregano, marjoram and sage. I find that if I place them in a location that is somewhat protected from […]

Phyllis Raising a Glass, Visit to Casamonti, Tuscany, Italy
My Stories

A Visit to a Tuscan Farm

Some months ago Judy Witts Francini posted on FB that she had gone to pick up some Cinta Senese pig products from a “farm” near Castellina in Chianti, I knew we had to go as we would be in Chianti in May! If you have never tried Cinta Senese prosciutto and get the chance, it’s […]

Blog Post Photo, Glass Front Door of Pizzarium, Rome, Italy
My Stories

Kudos, Rome 2014

It’s especially true that when we are travelling we want to sample local foods and find restaurants that promote fantastic ingredients! Going on vacation gives allows us to explore new to us places to do so. Rome has been experiencing changes in their food scene and that definitely required some serious tasting on our part! […]