From Scratch (A Reflection on the Year that was 2022)
Earlier this year, I like many, was absorbed in the limited series “From Scratch” on Netflix. I would have never imagined that this television title, for me, would define 2022. The term “From Scratch” is defined as creating something without any ingredients or materials prepared ahead of time. In culinary terms, to make something from […]
Italian Food Museums: Getting Cultured One Bite at a Time
Given how seriously Italians take their culinary culture, it should come as no surprise that there are entire museums devoted to specific food items and ingredients. In honour of International Museum Day on May 18th, I thought I would highlight a few of the ones dedicated to some of my favourites. Let’s begin in Emilia-Romagna […]
Casatiello: Easter’s Savoury Crown
The culinary spotlight really seems to shine on Napoli during the Easter season with traditional delights. Many are familiar with the Pastiera Napoletana (the customary sweet tart made with grano cotto, eggs and ricotta, flavoured with orange flower water) but there is also a wonderfully delicious and symbolic savoury dish prepared during the season known […]
La Befana Traditions are so Coal!
La Befana is one of Italy’s oldest and most celebrated legends. Each year on January 6 the children of Italy awaken in hopes that La Befana has made a visit to their house. In popular folklore La Befana sheltered the three wise men during their travels but declined to visit the baby Jesus as she […]
Turdilli: The Deliciously Twisted Calabrese Cookie
Turdilli are a traditional Calabrese dessert made during the Christmas season. They are wine cookies that are fried and coated in honey. They hail from the province of Cosenza. Fig honey is traditionally used to coat them as it is typical of this Calabrian province, and it gives these treats a distinct coloring and flavoring. […]
Certified True Italian Taste
It is often said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. When it comes to the authenticity and quality of Italian products however, it is anything but flattering. Each year, trade in fake Italian goods costs the economy billions of euros. The number of “fake” products in the food market is staggering with imitations […]
Scarpaccia: The Dish with Sole
Given the choice to live in a shoe or eat one, I’d take the latter particularly in the case of an Italian regional specialty known as scarpaccia. Scarpaccia is a savoury zucchini tart (think zucchini bread but better) originating from the Tuscan coastal areas of Viareggio and Camaiore. Its name roughly translates to “old shoe”, […]
Going to New Heights at the 360 Restaurant
Toronto’s city skyline is distinctively punctuated by one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the CN Tower. Hovering 553m over the metropolis, the famed tower houses 360 The Restaurant which is known for its Canadian Ingredients, Canadian Wine and Canadian View. At the helm, creating an unforgettable dining experience for patrons is Executive […]
Fried Chicken in the Kitchen
The great poet Maya Angelou once said, “The best comfort food will always be greens, cornbread and fried chicken” and I must say that I’m inclined to agree, particularly after being part of an informative and interactive culinary workshop series presented by Canola Eat Well. I had the pleasure of taking part in one of […]
Nutella Face 2016: Celebrating the Art of Happiness
For over half a century Nutella has turned making people smile, into an art; and on February 5th smiles will be painted on the faces of Nutella lovers globally, in honor of World Nutella Day. Our Nutella loving trio, Fables and Focaccia, Vanessa Galle Photography and Design Inc., and David f. Di Benedetto: Design, Creative […]