Category: Food

Adopt a Tuscan olive tree and enjoy your own organic extra virgin olive oil!

29 April 2021

Are you passionate about nature, environment, agriculture, history, traditions, organic food, Italian goodies , Tuscany and all about Italy ? Yes? So, this is your call! Now with https://www.ageroliva.it/ you can have the chance to adopt a Tuscan olive tree on Pistoia’s hills and so in this way you could : 1. save a tree … More Adopt a Tuscan olive tree and enjoy your own organic extra virgin olive oil!

Florence cultural tours with yummy stops in harvest time

6 September 2019

September it’s harvest time in Tuscany so in this period of the year we can find by bakery a special sweet focaccia made with grapes called : schiacciata con l’uva ; just simple ingredients but very very yummy : ideal for breakfast or as a cake for a tasty snack . This could be your … More Florence cultural tours with yummy stops in harvest time

Summer colors of Pistoia : sun is here,on our food market today

5 June 2019

Buongiorno from my birthplace, Pistoia! This morning I after having visited the clothes market that as I wrote in another post of some time ago, it is on Wednesday’s & on Saturday’s in the main square of Pistoia since the Middle Age, I took a walk at the vegetable market on the “Piazza de La … More Summer colors of Pistoia : sun is here,on our food market today

Berberè in Florence : an authentic Italian pizza in the heart of Florence

15 January 2019

If you are in Florence you can’t miss the Basilica of Santa Croce , the Pazzi chapel and of course all the nice shops in the nearby, especially http://www.aquaflorfirenze.com in Borgo Santa Croce no.6 a lovely shop where you could find the best room fragrances, parfums and luxury soaps to bring home as gifts for … More Berberè in Florence : an authentic Italian pizza in the heart of Florence

Easter time : it’s Colomba sweet time in Italy!

19 March 2018

Have you ever tasted Colomba Pasquale ( Easter dove in English )? Not yet? Here follows some photos I took on the ‘backstage’ of Fratelli Lunardi bakery in Quarrata – Pistoia – http://www.fratellilunardi.it This special kind of soft pastry needs many rising hours to be ready for the oven in this case the Lunardi brothers … More Easter time : it’s Colomba sweet time in Italy!

Migliacci pistoiesi : traditional  crêpes made with pork blood  (Made in Pistoia – Italy’s capital of culture 2017)

18 January 2017

My grand-grandmother Inès introduced me to these particular kind of food when I was a child. I didn’t know what they were made of and so I tasted them & loved them inmediately. Nowadays , as my daughter knows what they are made of , she doesn’t want to try them : she really can’t … More Migliacci pistoiesi : traditional  crêpes made with pork blood  (Made in Pistoia – Italy’s capital of culture 2017)

Ever tried farro beans soup ? a Tuscan traditional dish

10 June 2016

Ever heard about “farro” ? it’s an old  cereal used in the past on our mountains especially in the Lucca area , spelt in English. Since I was a child my grandmother told me about this special kind of “brown  rice “she tasted by her friends in the Garfagnana district. At those times – about … More Ever tried farro beans soup ? a Tuscan traditional dish

Prato & PastaMadreDay  : sourdough for homemade bread & focaccia

16 May 2016

What a great Sunday yesterday ! Some months ago I had  the pleasure to meet  a foodblogger from Prato – Stefania Storai  www.minaelesuericette.ifood.it  & she invited me to this event in Prato  called : Pastamadre day , litteraly in English could be “mother dough “: the name is easly understanding , because it is from … More Prato & PastaMadreDay  : sourdough for homemade bread & focaccia

How to eat a fresh pork sausage for a tasty aperitivo!

11 May 2016

In Tuscany we love pork meat , in every possible way! Even raw pork sausages are delicious just spreading them on a Tuscan unsalted slice of bread….ever tried? if not yet ,you SHOULD ! Just  buy FRESH  ones handmade by one of our  ‘norcino’ ( a particular butcher who deals with pork meat only ) … More How to eat a fresh pork sausage for a tasty aperitivo!

Fresh pasta made in Genoa ~ Ligurian style !

19 April 2016

My interesting walking tour  in Genova stopped not only by a bakery to taste focaccia genovese  but also here : by a fresh handmade pasta maker  : PASTA FRESCA  FABIO & ALESSIA run by two brothers that run this family business  in the historical center (have a look to the  ceilings :old  afrescoes  overlooking the … More Fresh pasta made in Genoa ~ Ligurian style !

Sapori di Genova : a crunchy , soft focaccia Ligurian style 

18 April 2016

Last Friday I had the pleasure to visit Genoa with a special guided tour planned  by Confartigianato Liguria  association, CNA Liguria , IN LIGURIA regional agency  touristic promotion & with the best Genoa’s licensed guide,  Cristina Gelvi , in occasion of the Genoa Pesto World Championship 2016 . So nice to meet this new folk … More Sapori di Genova : a crunchy , soft focaccia Ligurian style 

Cooking class in Liguria :  how to make Pesto alla genovese

23 March 2016

           One of my best tour ever is made in Liguria with American & Australian clients! First thing we learned to make was ….PESTO!!! and I still can feel the pressed basil’s scent in the air…amazing experience indeed you can forget faces,people,places but not smells! Everybody was so excited to start a new … More Cooking class in Liguria :  how to make Pesto alla genovese

MadeinPistoia : Mardi Gras & frittelle di riso = fried rice donuts!!

9 February 2016

My father from Thailand just phoned me to tell me they are prepearing special sweets for today….my friend from London wrote me this morning about a kind of pancakes they are making today and  so….what about here in Pistoia?? We are making FRITTELLE DI RISO in a very traditional way , as my grandgrandmother did … More MadeinPistoia : Mardi Gras & frittelle di riso = fried rice donuts!!

This is for my foodies’ friends: “cenci”a typical fried dough 4 Carnival

1 February 2016

As my grandmother Gina used to make with me, now it was time 4 me with my daughter  Francesca! From my old receipes’ book ( a bit dirty, sorry !  I know, but it is also full of good memories  & I don’t want to have any new other one but …THIS!!) . Different names … More This is for my foodies’ friends: “cenci”a typical fried dough 4 Carnival

MadeinPistoia : Chocomoments, a  sweetness celebration 

6 January 2016

        In Pistoia since two days & until this evening you can visit this chocolate kermesse ! So many different kind of handcrafted chocolate producers  – made in Italy – in  different shapes, tastes & colours & consistence ( as the liquid tiepid chocolate to be sipped  with a spoon as it is not … More MadeinPistoia : Chocomoments, a  sweetness celebration 

MadeinFlorence : Manetti , edible gold to enrich your Christmas dishes

11 December 2015

Not just  arts & fashion in Florence, it is also a city worldwide renowed   for its goldsmiths shops on the Ponte Vecchio , the small artisans studios & also this kind of gold :genuine 23 kt gold  & genuine silver  available in flakes ( yes as corn flakes😂😂) crumbs ,powder &  leaves  to be … More MadeinFlorence : Manetti , edible gold to enrich your Christmas dishes

Testaroli with pesto sauce : a different kind of pasta

8 December 2015

Have you ever  seen them before?Me neither since some years ago! They are a traditional dish from the northern part of Tuscany on the Ligurian border and of Liguria . Big round shaped  made of  white flour and water, cooked on the fire as necci (special sweets  made with  cestnut flour) to be cut in … More Testaroli with pesto sauce : a different kind of pasta

Chocolate valley : in Tuscany we have this too!

29 November 2015

Yes, did you know this? Not only superb wines , lovely landscapes , art & architecture but also a real sweet valley made of maitres  chocolatiers! In Pistoia, Prato, Firenze and Pisa we can offer a huge choice of this delicious product: the best ingredients, the most original mix of dried fruits, spirits , wine … More Chocolate valley : in Tuscany we have this too!

MadeinPistoia : brigidini ~ crunchy & thin as autumnal leaves🍂🍁🍂

19 November 2015

How many delicious products we make in Pistoia? So many!!👏👏👏this is another kind,  similar to Cialde from Montecatini with an anisette scent . It’s an old tale that a nun named Brigida created them by mistake while she was supposed to make host  for the Church , from her they took their name. They are … More MadeinPistoia : brigidini ~ crunchy & thin as autumnal leaves🍂🍁🍂

MadeinPistoia : cialde di Montecatini Terme ( Pistoia’s district thermal city)

17 November 2015

Ever seen before? ever tried? A typical product from this thermal city in Tuscany that is Montecatini Terme, just 15km from Pistoia. Loved them since I was a child : simply as they are or together with ice cream, vin santo dessert wine or an espresso coffee or hot chocolate ….😋😋😋 They are made of … More MadeinPistoia : cialde di Montecatini Terme ( Pistoia’s district thermal city)

Pinzimonio: what is it? how to taste just pressed extra virgin olive oil at its best!

9 November 2015

Many foreign people that I met during the years have never heard about it! It’s just an easy & healthy way of eating raw vegetables dipping them in  extra virgin olive  oil 😋😋😋 from our Tuscan hills ( this was another present from Valeria ❤️💋thank you   soo much! pressed yesterday evening & straight away … More Pinzimonio: what is it? how to taste just pressed extra virgin olive oil at its best!

Made in Pistoia : castagnaccio a Tuscan chestnut cake 

2 November 2015

Pistoia is located 30 km from Florence & surrounded by hills & mountains filled with chestnuts trees, that’s why at the present they are full of these seasonal fruits that I really love! In the past chestnut  trees were called : “bread trees” , just because from these small versatiles  fruits  – colesterol free  + … More Made in Pistoia : castagnaccio a Tuscan chestnut cake 

Pan coi Santi  : All Saints sweet bread from Siena , ever tried?

30 October 2015

Every period of the year has its own typical food products & this is another one of these : called Pane dei Santi because in the past  it was produced at home of by bakers during the end of October , beginning of November ( at that time Halloween wasn’t yet arrived in Italy )to … More Pan coi Santi  : All Saints sweet bread from Siena , ever tried?

Do you know which is the best dressing  for your salad ?

28 October 2015

A  right dressing can really makes THE difference for all your salads ! In this period in Tuscany we are pressing the new extra virgin olive oil & I love it on my salad , with some drops of balsamic vinagre & pomagranate🙃👍😉 delicious👏👏👏 And you? which do you prefer?click  here & know more about … More Do you know which is the best dressing  for your salad ?

How to make the real “bruschetta” with just pressed Tuscan new extra virgin oil 

18 October 2015

My grandfather Dino    was used to say : “the simplest it is the best it  tastes ” if the ingredients are top quality  , I should add nowadays… This is the same for the real Tuscan bruschetta: no chopped tomato! just a toasted slice of Tuscan unsalted bread , extra virgin olive oil , … More How to make the real “bruschetta” with just pressed Tuscan new extra virgin oil 

Foodlovers : ever tried a giant mortadella?if not ,you should !

9 October 2015

This morning I smelt a great aroma while I was walking in the supermarket, I turned and what I saw? This big big mortadella !!! it was taller than me!! 😂😂😂 The Giant mortadella Veroni since 1925 in Correggio Emilia www.veroni.it more than 2000 kg 👏👏🔝🔝🔝 Couldn’t resit and buy a piece: eaten in 10 minutes with … More Foodlovers : ever tried a giant mortadella?if not ,you should !

Made in Pistoia : seasonal fruits”loto” & “giuggiole”

8 October 2015

In Italian these orange beautiful tasty fruits with  thin peel are called Kaki or cachi but in my area we call them Loti as lotus , the flower. My grandmother used to offer this since I was a baby girl & telling me that it was filled with little toungues & in fact you can … More Made in Pistoia : seasonal fruits”loto” & “giuggiole”

MadeinPistoia : ever tried migliacci?a special kind of crêpe made of…blood!

4 October 2015

My grand-grandmother Inès   used to prepear these at home during  autumn season when in Pistoia’s  countryside farmers killed pigs to make sausages,ham,ciccioli,salame & ….these original kind of crêpes made of pig’s blood . In Italy we have a saying : “del maiale non si butta niente! ” in English :We use all parts of … More MadeinPistoia : ever tried migliacci?a special kind of crêpe made of…blood!