Easter breads are highly anticipated in Italy. Easter follows the Lenten fast which used to prohibit the eating of not only meat, but dairy as well. As a result, Easter menus were plentiful in eggs and butter, and easter breads have a coveted brioche-like quality to them. Regional differences and personal preferences dictate the symbolism of each t...

The Amalfi Coast represents a mirabile example of how the agricultural landscape can characterize a geographic area. The sweet degrading of the terraced gardens with lemon groves, the evocative contrast of colors between the green of the leaves and the blue of the sea, the penetrating scent of zagare (lemon blossoms), make the Amalfi Coast a unique...

If you’re in search of the best homemade pasta in Texas, look no further than Piattello Italian Kitchen in Fort Worth. From ravioli to spaghetti and everything in between, all of the pasta here is made from scratch, and you can definitely taste the difference. It's rare to find restaurants that make everything from scratch, which is what makes Piat...

In northern Italy, along Lake Como, you’ll find Mandello del Lario, a city famous for manufacturing Moto Guzzi motorcycles since 1921 and less famous for some of the more interesting restaurants in the region. There, in the La Pizzeria-Trattoria Rosalba I had my first brush with handfuls of sage in Italian cooking and the enormous influence herbs l...

The head-sized citrus and super fruit cedro. The sweet, fragrant onions from Tropea. The spicy, smoky, spreadable ‘nduja. The piquant pepperoncini. Calabria’s cuisine is born on the backs of its stellar ingredients–cooked into rich stews, baked into simple breads, and melted into pasta sauces. Calabrian food is no-frills stuff.  Tomatoes and eggpla...

In Naples, the tarallo, or as they say in the local dialect "o' tarall' nzogna e pepe" (which means lard and pepper), represents a real institution, a traditional street food born in the 17th century as a poor tavern food and now evolved into an excellent product for quality aperitifs. Imagine savoring it while strolling along the waterfront, with...

From Westchester to the world, baby! Beloved local chef and Food Network star Christian Petroni is making his Nashville debut this month on Lower Broadway at Ella’s on 2nd, which will introduce a new coastal Italian concept, menu, and name – Ella’s by Christian Petroni – under his leadership and in partnership with Red Pebbles Hospitality. Longtime...

The disappearing art of truffle hunting is facing a new and “grave threat” from winemakers in northern Italy. The rare white Alba truffle and Piedmont red wines are among the region’s most prized products, and have been sourced in happy proximity for decades. But winemakers in the Langhe area of Piedmont are now eyeing up the shadier side of the hi...

A feast day amid Lent, Saint Joseph’s Day on March 19 is especially popular within the Italian-American community, where it’s traditionally celebrated by eating zeppole. A treat dating back to ancient Rome, zeppole are made with deep-fried dough stuffed with custard, pastry cream, or jelly. All zeppole get dusted with powdered sugar, and they are u...

As a student, I used to live with a girl from Merano, Alto Adige: two Italians abroad, both from the mountains — one from those of Piemonte, the other from the Dolomites — we had a lot of things in common, including a genetic love for the snow and trekking at high altitude, and a penchant for heavy, homemade liquors. Her brother used to make a fant...