Wine lovers the world over visit this terrace overlooking the Val d'Orcia to pay homage to the birthplace of one of the pillars of Italian wine, Brunello di Montalcino. At this time of year in Montalcino, the Sangiovese grapes have been harvested and are quietly transforming into Bacchus' delicious
Never has Florence or Tuscany had to deal with the competition that it is facing today as new tourism markets open up on an almost daily basis: China; the ex-eastern bloc countries; some African countries; new locations in established markets such as in Brazil, Mexico, Thailand and Egypt. And even within the […]
That
darling little Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory, A Good Year) resurfaces in August Rush, Warner Bross
Thanksgiving/Christmas family concoction that sugarcoats reality with the
finesse of a fairy tale patissier. With Oliver Twist as a mentor the orphaned
Augustrepellent offspring of a musically intense
Few things are as uniquely American as the feast of Thanksgiving. Regardless of where Americans are that day, most cannot help but remember past meals. With memories comes the attempt to try and recreate Thanksgiving, despite the difficulty of finding the distinctive ingredients. Creating a Thanksgiving celebration in Florence requires
The holidays evoke an inevitable urge to cook, not that I ever need much to be inspired here in Florence. I am almost thankful that there is no Thanksgiving here in Italy, as the feasting rites of Christmas almost put me under the table. In this country, food always seems
“So, what should I get at the market for lunch tomorrow?” My blood turns to ice. This seemingly innocent question, when asked by one’s Italian mother-in-law, can shatter the peace and quiet of your Saturday morning like a drive-by shooting. Tomorrow, some friends and family are coming over for Sunday Lunch. Trapped […]
Thanksgiving - il giorno di ringraziamento - is less than a week away. Whether you are in Florence as a visitor, a student, or a resident, it is likely that your plans for the day are made. If you are an American or a Canadian – or the child of one &
Remember Giambologna’s turkey in the Bargello? Did you ever wonder if that sixteenth-century Florentine bronze sculpture had anything to do with the roasted and stuffed bird that you gobble up at Thanksgiving and Christmas? With the bird that Benjamin Franklin had wanted to put on the American
If you really want to make an Italian squirm, politely listen to what he has to say. Sit with your hands in your lap and nod attentively after each of his emphatic affirmations. For an Italian, there is no worse scenario. Why? Because Italians are fundamentally shy. “Siamo un
