The adventure begins with a reminder: no 's' on cannoli.
The first time I went to Italy, I spent a month with cousins in Grotte, Sicily, discovering my mother’s hometown. Then I was back in Rome, ready to start an internship with the Associated Press. I was 22. My Uncle Charlie was the next Grotte visitor. He and my mom went back to their hometown …
Continue reading A tribute to my Uncle Charlie, my Italy buddy
At our family picnics, there are so many cousins and children of cousins and their children, it can be a challenge to meet and greet everyone. My Aunt Joleen has the system nailed down though, as I witnessed at our recent gathering. “Now, who are you?” she simply asked, as she made the rounds. And that’s …
I created this blog to share my adventures in Italy. From being a spectator during Siena’s Palio to hiking the magnificent Dolomites, and hitting a few wine regions in between, I’ve tried to be more than a visitor, to blend in with the locals and have conversations about subjects other than “Where are you from?” …
There’s nothing like taking a detour while traveling in Italy. I’m not talking about an accidental detour because you get lost, although those can be an adventure as well. No, this is when you’re driving out and about along the Adriatic coast, passing by myriad beach towns, and then your friend says, “Hey, let’s go …
Continue reading Summer trip: the beach and a detour to the Abbey of Pomposa
*This is a post from December 2012 that I wrote on Huffington Post. I've reposted it here with photo updates and annotations from this year. I still make the cookies, I still cook for friends and family. I know Mom is watching, especially when I’m making the meatballs. “I’ve got the sauce and meatballs …
Continue reading Christmas With Mom: A Pot of Sauce, Cookies and Laughter
My Italy adventures continued this summer with a trip to Piedmont, in the wine region of Langhe, home to two of Italy’s most famous wines, Barolo and Barbaresco. It’s the classic picturesque Italy I’ve come to expect – small hilltop towns that look like they’re right out of central casting for a romantic movie, manicured …
Continue reading A Weekend in the Langhe: Barbaresco, Barolo and Alba
The second week of my spring 2017 trip to Italy brought me back to Tuscany, to Siena, the beautiful Medieval city that has become my defacto home. I always try to see and do different things upon every visit. This time, I spent two wonderful days exploring the Tuscan countryside with my friend and author …
