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Eight years ago when I began my Panini Girl trips to Lucca I met a very talented local woman whose passion is cooking. By day she works for the archdiocese located a few blocks away from our apartment and in her spare time she teaches cooking classes. We are lucky to stay in an amazing […]
Want to have a day filled with amazing scenery, lots of laughs, fabulous food and learn to bake the traditional bread of the Garfagnana? All you need to do is join in on a Panini Girl In Lucca tour and you too can experience what we did on this sunny Monday in the mountains outside […]
I’ve spent a wonderful first week on my own in my adopted home of Lucca, wandering down streets I’ve never explored, walking on the wall early mornings before the town has awoken, discovering new shops that have opened since my last visit and last but not least, sampling the food. I enjoy staying in […]
Looking for a homemade Christmas gift? I always bake a variety of cookies at this time of the year, but then again so does everyone else. I decided that instead it might be nice to make something savory to give to friends. I know it looks like there’s a lot of steps involved with this […]
You might be wondering who is Tillie and why am I making her rolls? Well I’ve had cinnamon rolls on the brain for the past few weeks and had been checking out various recipes when I came across a card in my massive recipe file that was titled “Tillie’s Never Fail Rolls”. I’ve never met […]
I am thrilled to announce my return to Lucca next spring. Come along and be prepared for lots of amazing food, new friends, stunning scenery and lots of laughs. I’m available to help you with your travel plans so get in touch! Dates: May 4 to May 11 (only three spots left ) Total Price Per Person: $3300 […]
I would like to thank my good friend L. from Cucina Cara Mia for Rolando Beramendi’s cookbook Autentico. I’ve had this book for months and have finally started to cook my way through it. The recipes are straightforward with good advice about ingredients and technique. They are “authentic” and exemplify the simplicity of Italian cuisine. Rolando’s book […]
We stumbled upon Lucca quite by accident seventeen years ago. Driving from Sienna to Milan at the end of our vacation we saw a sign saying “Lucca Centro Storico” and decided to stop there for lunch. Little did I know that this would be the start of a love affair with this lovely Tuscan town. […]
It’s hard to describe this magical corner of Italy in words. Yes, it holds a special place in my heart since both my grandparents emigrated from here, but there’s more to it than that. Calitri is definitely off the beaten track and there’s no train service here so you either have to take a bus […]
I don’t really have much of a bucket list probably because being anywhere in Italy is always at the top. I’m happiest when I’m here and when I’m not, I’m dreaming about when I’ll come back. Anyone who really knows me knows that my other great passion is food and cooking so yesterday I […]
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