Tiramisu
Filed Under Food History, Recipes Italy
Tiramisu is the king of Italian sweets, and the popular dessert is one you'll often encounter on our cooking vacations in Italy. And it is actually quite easy to make! While there are variations on the recipe for tiramisu, and its history, it's thought to have originated in Treviso, a small town 30 minutes from Venice in Italy's Veneto region. More specifically, a restaurant in Treviso stakes claim to the… Read
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Some of Our Top Tips for Visiting Rome
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips Italy
There are so many things to see in Rome, the so-called Eternal City, that one can live there for years and still not see them all (trust me, I've tried!). Not only the seat of some of the world's most important history and culture, it presents its visitors with a way of life and a gastronomy that also provide indelible experiences that you won't want to miss. Check our our… Read
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Tuscan Recipe for Butternut Squash and Spelt Soup
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Recipes Italy
This Tuscan soup, which was can be learned on our culinary tours to Tuscany, is one of our favorite winter dishes, both hearty and delicious. Even my six-year old loves it, as it's the perfect mix of creaminess from the squash and texture from the spelt. Plus, the subtly sweet-savory flavor is always a winner in our house! If you can't find spelt, substitute barley. I usually double (or even… Read
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Traditional Christmas Dessert: Caggionetti (Calcionetti)
Filed Under Recipes, Special Occasions Italy
If you're spending the Christmas season on a culinary tour of Abruzzo, Italy - a region known for its beautiful landscapes - chances are you'll get a taste of caggionetti abruzzesi (sometimes called caggiune, caggiunitte, or calcionetti) - a fried dessert. Once upon a time these traditional Abruzzo Christmas cookies were only served on Christmas Eve, but now these ravioli cookies are a tradition that lasts throughout November and December.… Read
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5 Tips for Dining Out in Italy
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips Italy
Food, of course, is a staple wherever you go. But the customs that come with dining are different just about everywhere you go too. For starters, when visiting Italy, it's worthwhile to know that dinner tends to be later there than in the U.S., and often starts anywhere between 7:30 and 9pm. (And this is true of much of Europe too). It's also important to make reservations whenever you can… Read
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Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve: An Italian Baccalà Recipe
Filed Under Recipes, Special Occasions Italy
Codfish is a popular dish around the world during the Christmas holiday season, and we often get asked for Christmas Eve cod recipes. In Portugal, it's a tradition that dates back centuries. In Mexico and Brazil, it also often has a place at the table. And codfish is frequently part of Italy's Italian Christmas Dinner known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes–a Christmas Eve meal that's also celebrated by… Read
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