This article originally appeared in the February/March 2022 issue of Dream of Italy. Affectionately referred to as La Grassa (“the fat one”), Bologna is the capital of Emilia-Romagna, arguably Italy’s most important food region. Granted, you’ve got Piemonte and Liguria in the north, Toscana and Umbria in the middle, Puglia and Sicilia in the south—it’s almost impossible to go wrong …
Star-Crossed Love: Florence’s Own Romeo and Juliet (February/March 2022)
This article originally appeared in the February/March 2022 issue of Dream of Italy. Before Romeo and Juliet, there was Francesco and Bianca. She, a runaway Venetian of noble blood; he, the Medici heir apparent to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. As with Shakespeare’s fictitious characters, the real-life Bianca and Francesco faced intense opposition to their union. Angry family members, spiteful …
Finding a Passion for Italian Cheese (February/March 2022)
This article originally appeared in the February/March 2022 issue of Dream of Italy. Kristine Jannuzzi has what many people would consider a dream job: writing about cheese, hosting cheese tastings and visits to Italian cheesemakers, and judging at the prestigious World Cheese Awards. Given her Italian-American heritage, she has always had a fondness for cheese, but her career as a …
Sister Act: From Australia to Italy (December 2021/January 2022)
This article originally appeared in the December 2021/January 2022 issue of Dream of Italy. The stories of how people end up living in Italy—and what they pursue—are fascinating. Twin sisters Lisa and Toni Brancatisano grew up with a Calabrian father and British mother in Melbourne, Australia. Since moving to Italy within a few years of each other in their 20s, …
Christmas Recipes From Our Family to Yours: Faraona (December 2021/January 2022)
This article originally appeared in the December 2021/January 2022 issue of Dream of Italy. My sister and I try to incorporate both Italian and Australian-British traditions into our Christmas cooking here in Italy. These two recipes are our mainstays for our family Christmas gatherings Faraona (Guinea Fowl With Chestnut Stuffing) After the pasta course of Christmas lunch or dinner is …
Christmas Recipes From Our Family to Yours: Tortellini in Brodo (December 2021/January 2022)
This article originally appeared in the December 2021/January 2022 issue of Dream of Italy. My sister and I try to incorporate both Italian and Australian-British traditions into our Christmas cooking here in Italy. These two recipes are our mainstays for our family Christmas gatherings. Tortellini in Brodo Tortellini in broth is a classic Christmas recipe, originating in Bologna, although it …
The Small But Essential Pleasures of Italy (October/November 2021)
This article originally appeared in the October/November 2021 issue of Dream of Italy. For me, dreaming of Italy—which is all I have done since my last visit there in October 2019—might not be what you would expect. Yes, there is the sublime cuisine and superb wine, but I write Italian cookbooks and can make dishes at home that remind me of la …
Procida Takes the Spotlight in 2022 (October/November 2021)
This article originally appeared in the October/November 2021 issue of Dream of Italy. Find the main article, What’s New in Italy, here. Visitors looking for a more unexplored corner upon their return to Italy next year can venture to the tiny island of Procida, which was named Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2022. The award comes with 1 million € …
Delightful Garden Cooking on Capri (October/November 2021)
This article originally appeared in the October/November 2021 issue of Dream of Italy. Find the main article, What’s New in Italy, here. If you’ve been to Capri, there’s a good chance you’ve dined with at Ristorante Michel’angelo, owned by Chef Gianluca D’Esposito and his wife, Holly Star. When it closed after 12 years, fans were devastated by the couple were …
Modern Art in Abruzzo (October/November 2021)
This article originally appeared in the October/November 2021 issue of Dream of Italy. Find the main article, What’s New in Italy, here. MAXXI L’Aquila (National Museum of 21st-Century Arts) opened its doors to the public this year—a symbol of rebirth in L’Aquila, a community that was ravaged by both Covid-19 in 2020 and a devastating earthquake in 2009. The museum …