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It’s summer and my farmers market is in full swing. Tables are piled high with heirloom tomatoes, green beans, corn, peppers and of course, zucchini. We’re growing zucchini in our yard too but don’t have enough blossoms yet to stuff. I found these beauties at the market and decided to try something different. Last week […]
It’s heartbreaking to announce, but the May 2021 tour has been rescheduled due to the pandemic. I’m already dreaming of my return to Lucca this autumn. Come along and be prepared for amazing food, new friends, stunning scenery and lots of laughs. I’m available to help you with your travel plans so get in touch! […]
It was two years ago this month that we visited Ferrara. Located only about half hour by train from Bologna this city is definitely worth a visit. It reminded me a lot of Bologna, only smaller and without all the tourists. The city has one of Italy’s best preserved Medieval neighborhoods. The quarter is a […]
The first time I tasted a sformata we were in a trattoria in Acqui Terme in Piemonte. I ordered it not knowing exactly what it was and was pleasantly surprised when I was served a light and creamy vegetable custard. After returning home I searched for recipes and made one with spinach. That was quite some […]
The one bright spot in this incredibly strange time is that my local farmers market is sill up and going full force. Most of the other markets in the San Diego area have been closed for the past five weeks so I feel very lucky to be able to support these small family owned […]
Twenty years ago when we started planning our first trip to Italy J. proclaimed that he didn’t care about visiting Rome. He thought it would be too big and too noisy. Knowing that we could only see so much in two weeks I wasn’t bothered that we wouldn’t make a stop in […]
About an hour away from Calitri outside the town of Paternopli is Tenuta Fonzone, a family owned winery. We spent an incredible afternoon here tasting their wines accompanied by plate after plate of local specialties. You need to make a reservation to visit the winery and I urge you to make a stop here […]
After my week in Lucca last spring we spent a few days in Rome and then took the train across the country and south to Calitri (birthplace of my grandparents). You can’t actually take the train there, which we found out on our first visit. We discovered that what we thought were train tickets ended […]
For the past ten years April is the month when I pack my bags and head to Italy for my Panini Girl week in Lucca. This year due to a wedding in California in early May I planned my tour for mid September. Little did I know that our world would be shaken up and […]
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything-not quite sure why. I’ve been meaning to post about my love for Italy and I just haven’t gotten around to it. Needless to say Italy is on my mind every single day and baking this for Easter lunch is my tribute to the birthplace of my […]
Panini Girl 