And the quick history of this dish When I moved to the United States seven years ago, I went through a phase of cooking Tuscan recipes. All the time. I was surprised, because when I actually lived in Tuscany, I spent most of my time exploring the cuisines of other cultures. In my kitchen in Oregon I […]

AND A HIDDEN STORY BEHIND IT In this episode I share: Full transcript : The one thing that I don’t miss from Tuscan cuisine is unsalted bread. Florentines take great pride in their pane toscano, made from only flour, sourdough starter, and water. It’s a rustic round loaf, typically weighing one to two kilograms, baked in […]

THE ROOTS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI ‘S PAINTING IN MY FAVORITE CORNER OF TUSCANY I married my husband twice. The first time, we eloped on a sandy beach in Hawaii. The second time was a real Italian wedding with family and friends in the hills of Sant’Andrea a Morgiano, in Tuscany, a place that’s always […]

HOW LANDSCAPE SHAPES IDENTITY LINKS: I love learning the stories of people whose identity is intertwined with the place they were born.  My relationship with my own region has been conflicted. By the time I reached my twenties, Florence felt much too small, and I wanted to get out into the world so I moved […]

If I picture in my head home in Tuscany I see immediately two plants, the mulberry tree and the caper bush. In this episode, I will be sharing stories and memories associated with these plants. Full episode transcript :  Two plants evoke Tuscany and home for me: the mulberry tree and the caper bush. When […]

In this episode I want to introduce you to Valentina Gadotti. She’s the owner of a small herd of goats in Greve in Chianti, a cheese maker and an active participant in the food sovereignty movement. I will be sharing her personal journey that took her from a master in Political Science to making cheese […]

Meet my favorite guide in Florence, Agata Chrzanowska!  Phd, Art Historian and professional guide. In this episode I’ll be sharing how her love for Reinassance Art brought her from Poland to Florence. Links: * Learn more about Agata Chrzanowska here. * The Brancacci Chapel in Piazza del Carmine, Florence. * Street Artist Clet, and his […]

In this episode I’ll be sharing why Italians don’t tip and some personal mistakes I made as an Italian living in the US around tipping. Links: * My favorite seafood restaurant in Bagno a Ripoli, Florence. * A very interesting book on the American tipping system that I just started to read: One Minimum Wage […]