Many things come to mind when you think of Christmas, and we’d bet that among them, love it or hate it, is shopping. Though many people lament the commercialization of Christmas as a vice of modern times, the origin of […]
Europe
Cicchetti: Venetian-style Tapas
For many years, Venice has held a steady place among the world’s most popular destinations. Famous for its beautiful canals and amazing palaces, Venice boasts a dream-like atmosphere that only a city built on water can evoke. The locals’ Venice can […]
Deciding Where to Eat in Italy
When you think, “let’s go to a restaurant tonight,” what is it that comes to mind? A large dining room with friendly servers bustling about taking orders and bringing patrons steaming dishes of professionally cooked food? This is usually how […]
An Insider’s Guide to Gelato
The word gelato translates to ice cream in English, but anyone who has ever appreciated real Italian gelato knows that it is entirely different from a standard ice cream. There are some differences between gelato and ice cream that are apparent just […]
The Art of Pasta & Sauce Pairings
When it comes to the world of pasta, even those who’ve been eating the Italian staple since they got their first teeth might be surprised by how little they really know about pasta in its many varieties. Considering dried pasta […]
In Search of the Perfect Pasta
Pasta Smackdown: Fresca vs Secca Have you ever been out at an Italian restaurant and had a simple pasta dish that just blew your mind? Did you think that the pasta was so fantastic because they must be making it by […]
How to Eat Pasta Like an Italian
It is a well-known fact that pasta is a favorite food worldwide. As one of the most versatile ingredients on the planet, pasta is used in so many ways that it has become more like a global dish than an Italian specialty. For […]
Understanding the Italian Menu
A Guy Sits Down at a Restaurant… Many a foreigner has ventured into a restaurant in Italy, sat down for the exquisite dining experience that everyone talks about, opened the menu, and been suddenly struck with an overwhelming sense of confusion. If the menu […]
The Italian Aperitivo
A New Habit Worth Adopting When one thinks about Italy, it generally conjures images of beautiful, tan, and well dressed people, historic architecture, fast cars, pristine coastlines and good food. Certain facets of Italian culture are only well known by Italians and insiders who have lived in […]