I published a post on how to order an Italian coffee in Italy years ago on this site – the definitive guide to Italian coffee for coffee lovers! Since then, it’s been one of my most popular posts, and I’ve had requests to make it into an ebook and expand it ever since. I’m happy [...]

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This is what I eat a lot of while I’m in Puglia – una pepata di cozze. Sometimes spelled impepata or ‘mpepata – “peppered” mussels, I think an alternative translation is steamed mussels, prepared with and garlic, and yes, pepper. So delicious. Quick and easy, only a few ingredients and one pot are needed to make this [...]

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I was lucky enough to be in Rome at just the right time. Last weekend, some great friends, Erica and Hande decided to organize a “Franciacorta night” among friends. And some of my favorite Rome expat bloggers were there, too. The locale? vino roma on the lungotevere, along the Tiber river just above the Castel [...]

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When I was at BlogHer Chicago in 2009, I had the privilege of eating dinner at Grant Achatz’s restaurant, Alinea (voted consistently one of the best restaurants in the US). Two years later, it’s still a meal I think about, a lot. Of course, I think about the absolutely fun time I had with Elise [...]

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Today the New York Times posted a story about Count Niccolò Branca di Romanico – the leading royalty of the Fernet Branca‘s family dynasty and holder of the secret recipe for the Fernet Branca digestive that has achieved a cult status with waiters & bartenders in New York, San Francisco, and it’s spreading… Did I [...]

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