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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...

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This recipe from my Italian Diabetes Cookbook is said to be the ancestor of San Francisco’s famous Cioppino stew. My version comes from the western Tuscan town of Livorno, located on the sparkling Tuscan Sea. During the Gold Rush Era and later in the 19th century, many Italians immigrated to California. Some of them replicated Italian fishing boats...

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The third week of November is the Settimana Mondiale della Cucina Italiana in the USA. During this week I join the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Trade Agency in celebrating the value that true Italian cuisine brings to our health, our homes, our communities, and our daily lives. November is also Diabetes Awareness Month – a worldwide campaign to...

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The Ordine della Stella d’Italia recognizes those expatriates and foreigners who have acquired special merits in promoting friendly and cooperative relations between Italy and other countries and in fostering ties with Italy.  During the opening day of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, a week-long series of events dedicated to “Dining with...

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September is harvest season in Italy, and this month is a great time to take advantage of the late summer bounty. In a typical Italian meal, a main course consisting of fish, meat, or poultry would be accompanied by a green vegetable or two and perhaps a root vegetable or carrots. The contorni are always served alongside the main course and are the...

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Summertime calls for easy recipes that evoke happy memories and delicious flavors while providing the nutrients we need to keep us living our best lives. Scallops, called capesante in Italian, are made up of 80% protein and are low in fat. Eating them in this recipe will transport your mind to the Italian seaside while helping you to feel fuller lo...

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On August 21, 2023 an exciting "Nostos," a return journey to discover territories at the crossroads of peoples, cultures, and traditions that have called the Mediterranean home in different phases of history will take place at Max Enoteca Trattoria in Cirò Marina, Calabria.  During the day long forum, Arcadians, Oenotri, Achaeans, and then Romans,...

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When temperatures soar, a few nibbles and a glass of vino are all we need to celebrate the season. Italy’s 20 regions offer such diversity in terms of appetizer recipes that you can sample many of the world’s best flavors simply by taking a bite of a crunchy bruschetta or breaking apart a mozzarella-filled supplì (risotto croquette) to discover a s...

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“April showers bring May flowers, but what do May flowers bring?” is a popular American saying, but in Italy, the flowers from the  “common” elderberry bush, or fiori di sambuco bring captivating fragrance, medicine, and culinary masterpieces to the table.  Elderberry, or Sambuco is an indigenous tree from the Adoxocea family that grows spontaneous...

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There’s a quote by Fabrizio Carmagna which says “Il poeta ama giocare con l’invisibile: prende l’aria intorno a una farfalla e costruisce il sorriso di un bambino.” This translates in English as “The poet loves to play with the invisible; he takes the air around a butterfly and constructs the smile of a baby.” As a cook, when I think of butterflies...

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