Regular readers might have heard about a funky food tour I have been working on for October (see green line above). It’s been a long time in the making and my partner-in-crime, fellow expat in Calabria, friend and cooking class connoisseur, Tania Pascuzzi (In Italy Tours) and I have poured our blood, sweat and tears-or...Read More
Although this is technically my fifth December in the bel paese, I’ve only celebrated New Years in Italy once … three years ago, where the Prosecco flowed like, well, Prosecco, our happy feet overtook the dance floor and Italian “Bingo” and Karaoke filled the evening leading up to the explosive fireworks that overtook our little...Read More
I started this post last week as part of the “My Favorite Things” series on traditions I love in Southern Italy, but old memories kicked in and well, that post got long. So, last week I told you about my first aperitivo in Calabria and today I’m going to elaborate on the “Aperitivo Experience,” something...Read More
I’ve been running down the list of some of my favorite southern Italian traditions and have covered the long, leisurely lunch and the nightly passeggiata. Today, we’re returning to the table, but before I tell you about this pre-meal, appetite-inducing tradition, I need to go back-five or six years, actually, and tell you about my...Read More
A couple of weeks ago I started really thinking about the things I love in Calabria. I wrote about my favorite meal-time experience … the long, leisurely lunch and today, I’d like to talk about what we do after that. And no, I don’t mean sleeping (although that is a pretty handy southern Italian tradition,...Read More
A few weeks ago I asked where all of the good customer service guys had gone? I lamented the lack of a customer-service oriented mentality in south Italy and wondered how businesses could remain open with the attitude they have towards their customers. Well today, I have that answer. photo credit: Gudlyf But before we...Read More
photo credit: Pudpuduk I have to admit, it can be a little intimidating to walk into a new restaurant, in a new city, in a foreign country. You may or may not speak the language and although it is probably your overactive imagination- you are sure half of the room just turned to stare...Read More
photo credit: tore_urnes An Italian friend of mine was recently at a pizzeria in Naples and caught the following scene … The restaurant owner, a stocky, slightly-above-middle-aged man from Naples took the bill to a table of about 20 Americans. “Can you divide the check for us?” the American spokesman asks. The owner whips...Read More
There is one in every city – in every family – in every circle of friends … . There is a place you depend on. A place you rely on. A place you return to time and time again for a good meal. For my husband and me here in Catanzaro, Italy that place is...Read More
The people of Cosenza rave about their legendary pizzaiolo and have proclaimed the Pizzeria da Gigi, located just outside of downtown Cosenza, as the best pizza south of Naples. And I believed them. See. I’ve eaten there before. The pizza dough was soft and filling, the sauce prepared with fresh tomatoes, the toppings, generous and...Read More
