Well, both are white and bubbly. Champagne is from the eponymous region in France, Prosecco is from Italy. Both are protected regions: wines bearing the name must be from a specific area (which can mean absolutely nothing when it comes to quality). (more…)
Lovely lentils - in the shape of money, they say….Try some for New Years Day for some good luck, as the Italians do. Here’s a handwritten recipe Nancy got from the cook at a “deli” who used the tiny “Lenticchie Piccole di Montagna” and came up with a risotto-like texture. (more…)
‘Tis the time to stop speaking in King James English. It’s all behind us…Holiday bustle, the buildup to The Big Day, the denouement after opening presents… In this week with a New Year approaching, we enjoy the residual Holiday cheer, just can’t shake the habit of saying Happy Holidays, (more…)
Christmas Eve is called “La Vigilia” in Italian, meaning “The Eve.” Fun fact: The English word “vigil” has Latin roots and orignally meant “eve of a religious festival” (an occasion for devotional watching or observance).
Even more fun? Seven courses of fish as a traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Why seven? (more…)
One of our stops on our food and wine trip this fall was a visit with Luca Pimpinelli and his family in the Rennaissance capital of ceramics, Deruta. They say the riverbed soil there just sits up and takes shape into lovely serving and decorative pieces. Luca’s at it again with new designs and a new look. (more…)