Author Archive
Tis' the season. The season to rack your brain for gift ideas for your foodie friends who have it all. This is a fun and unique list to help you and me out. 1. Wine Monkey Wine Caddy Inspired by a truly timeless and beloved icon, this adorable wine caddy's cheeky sock-monkey design places it [...]
I love a good happy hour. Then again, what's not to love? Cheap drinks. Cheap nibbles. And all before 5 o'clock. On our first day in Florence we strolled aimlessly down the cobbled streets looking for some light fare and a glass of Italian vino. We asked a gentlemen moseying by where we could find just that [...]
It's a good day. I was invited to take the night off work to sip 100 different wines (I did NOT try them all), taste bite-size delicacies from more than two dozen well renowned restaurants (I DID try them all) and have a chance to brush elbows with my celebrity chef crush, Tyler Florence. Yep. I would definitely call that a good [...]
In the brisk morning hours in Florence, there was only one thing I wanted to do, go to the local Pasticceria and devour my new favorite pastry Millefoglie Glassato al Pistacchio. Millefoglie is an Italian dessert made by layering puff pastry with either a pastry or chantilly cream. We had discovered this little flaky piece of [...]
My husband Peter and I own an Italian restaurant. And pardon my bluntness or lack of modesty, but it's a pretty damn good Italian restaurant. We have spent many sleepless nights working on creating a memorable experience for our guests that focuses on reinventing traditional Italian dishes. This is why dining in Northern Italy was [...]
I am having a serious love affair with Venice. I lay awake at night fantasizing about our next date. This is not just lust. This adoration happened even though all the naysayers warned me of my loves potent sewer smell, pricey restaurants and overcrowded streets. But, all I could see was the fantastical labyrinth of canals. Maybe after dating [...]
On our tour of Tuscany I planned the shortest pit stop in Pisa. Several travel sites reported that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was a must-see, but not worthy of a sleepover. Which was okay, because my clean PJs were packed away, ready for tonights slumber party in Siena. We were coming from a focaccia-filled trip to [...]
I definitely wasn’t going to leave Italy without chomping on a soft, light piece of carb-infested focaccia. Next to gelato, it was the most talked about must-eat food and I don’t like to miss out on…anything. Though there are focaccia joints scattered all over Italia, when we selected La Cambusa in Manarola, Cinque Terre, we [...]
I start every morning with a non-fat, decaf, sugar-free vanilla cappuccino. Peter simply calls it the “Why Bother”. But, it is my not-so-guilty pleasure and I have never claimed to be a coffee connoisseur. As long as my foamy capp isn’t watery, I’m good. Now it would be an entirely different story if you gave [...]
I will admit that I am a HUGE fan of creme brulee, it’s creamy texture with torched top always sends me into a dessert coma. But, Sugo is an Italian restaurant, not French. So, when designing the dolci menu, there had to be a compromise. Enter Panna Cotta. It is not the sister of brulee, but [...]
