Everybody Loves Tuscany

Roasted Pork Shoulder with Tuscan Salmoriglio Sauce Ingredients One 4-pound boneless pork shoulder 1/2 cup kosher salt 2/3 cup sugar 3 tablespoons fresh oregano 3 tablespoons fresh thyme 10 anchovy fillets, chopped Freshly ground black pepper 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/3 cup beef or vegetable stock 3 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 cup pine nuts 2 […]

5-Ingredient Steak Dinner Think spinach, mint, garlic, toasted pine nuts, grana padana and olive oil slathered on flank steak.

Holidays in Italy Italy celebrates a number of holidays that are different from the US. Test your knowledge of these Italian holidays in this quiz! Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life – Anna Akhmatova

Warding off bad fortune Knocking on wood is a common tradition used to ward off bad fortune.  In Italy, the Italians don’t knock on wood to ward off bad fortune but instead touch another item.  Here is a video by a Florentine woman describing the common practice in Italy. JOIN US ON THE NEXT PAGE […]

ARA è Sicilia Run don’t walk to this Sicilian restaurant in Florence!  I honestly can’t remember the last restaurant that I went to that I was overwhelmed with delight by the combination of flavors and quality of dishes.  Daily specials are offered in addition to the regular menu so be sure to check the board where […]

Scoppio del Carro Scoppio del carro or explosion of the cart is an annual Easter tradition in Florence.  The cart is pulled by a pair of oxen through the streets to the front of the cathedral in Piazza del Duomo.  The cart is rigged with fireworks and is a spectacular show for the enormous crowd.Enjoy […]

Arezzo Arezzo (Italian pronunciation: [aˈrettso]) is a city and comune in Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southeast of Florence, at an elevation of 296 metres (971 ft) above sea level. Wikipedia Here is a short video I put together during a […]

Piadina recipe Piadina is a thin Italian flatbread, typically prepared in the Romagna region (Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna and Rimini). It is usually made with white flour, lard or olive oil, salt and water. The dough was traditionally cooked on a terracotta dish (called teggia in the Romagnol), although nowadays flat pans or electric griddles are commonly […]

Dolce Rosa Excelsa At 81 years old, Sophia Loren stars in Dolce & Gabbana’s new perfume campaign Dolce Rosa Excelsa.  This short film also includes the work of director Giuseppe Tornatore and composer Ennio Morricone. JOIN US ON THE NEXT PAGE FOR THE VIDEO

Florence’s Famous Street Cleaner If you’ve seen Florence’s famous street cleaner, you certainly will know what makes him stand out from the others. Have a look at what keeps all that encounter him smiling and watching. JOIN US ON THE NEXT PAGE FOR THE VIDEO