Updated 2018. I mentioned our fantastico culinary tour of Piedmont and have been meaning to return to write further installments of all that we saw and ATE. I was so impressed with the new restaurant the Ceretto wine family has opened in Alba that I rushed it into the February issue of Dream of Italy. Here’s an excerpt: Owned by …
Winter Games Trivia
Italy has hosted the Olympic Winter Games once before – exactly half a century ago in Cortina d’Ampezzo. These were the first Winter Games to be televised, and were the first in which the Soviet Union competed. Forty meteorologists and nivologists (snow experts) from the Piemonte meteorological office are continuously mapping temperature trends and snow movements so athletes can choose …
Is the Holy Grail in Torino?
Legend has it that the Holy Grail is buried underneath Torino’s Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio. Updated 2018
In Italy, Friday, the 17th = Friday, the 13th for Americans
Updated 2018. I don’t really understand how the number “17” can be considered unlucky but then again, I was born on the 17th day of August, so I’m partial to thinking highly of the number. I almost forgot the significance of Friday, the 17th, to Italians, until this report from the Associated Press reminded me. Here are some of the …
Torino Trivia
Updated 2018 Torino’s name sounds like the Italian word for bull (toro) and there are bull emblems all over the city. But Torino is named after a Celtic tribe and the word means, “of the mountains.” Torino was the first place in Italy to adopt cross-country skiing. Swiss engineer and resident of Torino Adolf Kind helped found the Ski Club …
Braving the Nordic
Updated 2018. Despite the cold and an early event time (I had to get up at 6 a.m. to make it on time), spectators were out in full force at Pragelato Plan for the Men’s Team Nordic Combined competition. If you’re not really sure what the Nordic Combined is, you’re not alone. In this event, 4 members from each country …
Women’s Luge at Cesana
We were impressed that our trip form Torino to Cesana via train and shuttle bus went smoothly. The venue was absolutely breathtaking. We purchased expensive category A tickets for this event, but soon realized that standing room tickets, where you just stand along the track, would have been far better and cheaper. Halfway through, we left our seats and stood …
Culinary Travels Through the Region of Piedmont
Updated 2018. Some of you may have seen Chef Roberto Donna of Washington, DC’s Galileo on yesterday’s Today Show. A group of us had the pleasure of joining Chef Donna on a culinary tour of his native Piedmont region. Mamma mia! As I have long told people, the food and wine of this region is among the best in all …
Toot, Toot – Torino
If there’s ever a time to toot my own horn, 4 a.m. should be as good as any. Your favorite insomniac is perusing the Web for up-to-the-minute information on travel to Torino – (oh dear, I have gone to the other side, somewhere around yesterday, I gave up the fight to call it ‘Turin’!). Just found out that USA TODAY …
Ten Things You Don’t Know About Turin
Updated 2018. Italians and foreigners alike often think of Fiat (the Italian carmaker) and Agnelli (the family who built the company) when they think of Turin yet, this city is hardly the Detroit of Italy. From world-class museums, to charming baroque architecture, to some of Italy’s best cuisine, Turin is a city of surprises. Here are some fascinating facts about …