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Happy 4th of July
2007-07-04 16:14:00
To All my readers: Happy 4th of July ! Good Food, Good Wine and Good Friends, the secret to a happy life!

Women?s Accessories Spring Summer 2007 ? Antique methods for modern Handbag
2007-07-02 15:18:00
From the hills of Sardinia arrives the latest fashion in personalized handbags and purses. Antonello, a young designer from the small town of Siligo, has transformed the traditional cloths and patterns into fashion for the modern world. The recurring pattern is the pistoccu, a Sardinian flower. The cloths are made with antique procedures. A graduate from London college of Fashion he did stints with numerous designers including Antonio Marras, Esprit, Prada, Bella Freud, Paul Smith, Mulberry, Hackett, and Fendi. Antonello does not have a problem finding qualified artisans to produce these works of art. The company is located in his home town.While at home visiting his family a local weaver gave him a saddlebag (worn by the men either over their shoulder or on the animal?s back). It was while living in constant contact with the traditional woven articles (including luxury carpets, luxury tapestries, luxury furniture mats and festival trappings for the horses and oxen), that Antonello ...
More About: Women , Summer , Accessories , Spring , Modern

Riccione Beach #137 Mojito ? Sun by day, Party all night
2007-06-29 23:06:00
The younger portion of my family is giving me a hard time because I wrote about the No Men Allowed beach #134 in Ricci one and I have not written about anything for the young and restless. Riccione, as most of the Adriatic coast, lives off of tourism. The beach is divided into concessions. The owner takes care of the beach area, provides chairs, tables and umbrellas. In the economic battle for visitors the local entrepreneurs are doing some interesting things. Beach #137 has teamed up with a local nightclub and is offering 24 hour a day fun.When the sun is out the traditional tanning beds and umbrellas are in full force but as soon as day turns to dusk the beach becomes one of the hottest nightspots in Riccione. Every week the theme is different and covers everything from free form fashion shows to comedians. The entertainment usually speaks Italian but the 18-30 year old visitors arrive from all over Europe. Obviously, as the name suggests, mixed drinks are available and the music i...
More About: Party , Night , Marche

Dolcetto d?Alba Enzo Boglietti 2005
2007-06-28 21:02:00
We stopped by friends just for a quick hello and the rains came. Flash floods are common here in Dallas when it does rain so we decided to drink a glass of wine while we waited for the bad weather to pass. We usually will drink a Pinot Grigio as an aperitif but the section of the cellar cuddling our bottles of white was unusually barren. Al delved into the cellar, emerging with a bottle of red. His choice was perfect, a young Dolcetto d?Alba by Enzo Boglietti from 2005. Traditionally we reserve red wines for dinner but a young Dolcetto d?Alba could be mistaken for a new wine.I found Dolcetto d?Alba Enzo Boglietti 2005 to be fresh and a bit fruity. It was surprisingly smooth with a pronounced flavor of Bing Cherries. A young red will often have an underlying acidity, a characteristic pleasingly absent. A year in the cellar should allow this wine to mellow and become a fantastic dinner wine. Young, as it is, Dolcetto d?Alba Enzo Boglietti 2005 will be perfect with fish recipes without...

George Clooney designs leather jackets for Belstaff Spring Summer 2008
2007-06-27 21:52:00
Men's Fashion week in Milan is almost over. Last night at the Belstaff show many were caught by surprise. A series of leather jackets, designed by George Clooney , was part of the collection. The collection will carry the label ?Not on my watch?. It may seem strange for the American heartthrob to design clothes. More importantly, why would an Italian designer allow someone else to design clothes for his line?There is an underlying theme in everything Italian. That theme is that the value of the individual is more important than things. One of the favorite sayings is, ?when you have your health you have everything.? Sure there are Italians who do not value life and get caught up in the keeping up with the Jones but the idea that human life has value is always there. George Clooney and Brad Pit are launching an international campaign to bring awareness of the tragedy in Darfur.The Not On Our Watch foundation aims to draw attention to crimes against humanity and has recently focused it...
More About: Summer , Jackets , Spring

Love Sex Money ? Innovative young designer from Carpi
2007-06-27 00:54:00
Love Sex Money is a provocative name whose designs live up to the label. The young designer, from the area around Modena, presented the Women's Spring and Summer collection for 2007. It has captured the imagination of the 20 something crowd of Milan. The line was first presented at the Bread & Butter show in Barcellona last year. The style is contemporary and as aggressive as the name. I believed it would be a tough sell into the real market of everyday Italians. I was proven wrong.The brand from Carpi has penetrated the stores from Corso Buenos Aires to Corso Vercelli. The line is made up of everyday wear and has a complete workout line. Love Sex Money is provocative and rebellious, just like its name. It embodies the young woman who is wants to be noticed but not necessarily stand out. The colors combinations are black, black and white, and red. The blouses hint of sexy lingerie. The linen slacks are the seaman?s knee length. I do not like the black knickers and black hose combin...
More About: Love , Young , Designer , Innovative

The wine Trail of Lake Garda ? Wines, Food, Entertainment, and Agriturismo
2007-06-24 18:53:00
Getting off the beaten tourist path and knowing what to do, where to go and what to eat is difficult. Most of us will use the Michelin Guide, the Gambero Rosso, or some other well known published book to identify a restaurant or a hotel in an area we do not know. Because the places are published they are usually not the best deals or most interesting solutions. I have found that when living in an area for about six months the locals have their secret places. For one reason or another these places never made it on the numerous publications that can give us insight into an area.Chatting with one of my buddies this week he mentioned that he had recently joined an association made up of small producers in the area of lake Garda. The association is made up of 80 members. Their businesses include: vineyards, olive oil, agriturismo, hotels, restaurants, artisans, cultural associations, and museums. Through the members you can find local foods and wine including: Olive oil with low acidity,...
More About: Entertainment , Food , Wine , Agriturismo , Veneto

Exclusive Beach in Riccione ? No Men Allowed!
2007-06-21 21:36:00
The Adriatic shores of Italy are the favorite destination of Italian family vacationers. The white sand beaches span the coast and the water remains waste deep for miles into the sea. The waters are warm from late May and riptides rarely occur. This makes the Adriatic the perfect beach destination for families with small children. Rimini, Ricci one and Cattolica are some of the most famous. Millions of Italians hit the coast cities during the summer vacation period. The area has also developed their infrastructures for the under 30 crowd with discotheques, nightclubs and low cost dining. Apparently this summer paradise was missing something, a beach just for women.Beach number 134 in Riccione, run by a female entrepreneur, is open only to women. She states that she is merely filling a need just as the all female hotel in Switzerland and the German bank that only opens accounts for women. The Italian bloggers are ablaze with commentary, most of it negative. The thought is that our cul...
More About: Exclusive , Lowe , Allo

Risotto with Zucchini Flowers
2007-06-21 01:54:00
We have a few Zucchini plants in the garden. Zucchini and other squash are quite powerful plants. The rule is, ?A few plants, lots of squash.? There is a way to keep the production in a relatively normal zone. When the male flowers blossom, eliminate about half of them. Yesterday we spent some time doing just that. Zucchini flowers are considered a delicacy in Italy. They are deep fried, stuffed, placed on pizza, or used as an ingredient in risotto. The flowers are highly desired but difficult to find because the flower begins to wilt as soon as it is picked thus cannot withstand normal channels of retail distribution.Allowing the flowers to simply wilt on the ground would have been a sin. Raffaella pulled the recipe for a risotto from her hat of tricks and the flowers made their way into the kitchen. One of our normal cooking buddies, a truly great chef with a flair for French and Cajun recipes, offered to prepare grilled Halibut. He had never tried the Zucchini flowers but once he...
More About: Flowers , Vegetables , Risotto , Riso , Lowe

Pasta with Shrimp in a wine sauce and Pesto
2007-06-19 16:30:00
The summer is in full swing and the garden grows. Traditional recipes are best in season. The herbs and vegetables are full of flavor. A traditional recipe prepared in season with homegrown products is without comparison. Our basil plants are doing incredibly well. They are about 15 cm high and the leaves are huge but supple. This has made me think back to my days in Chiavari, on the Costa Azzura. Liguria is patria of pesto. Pesto is used to compliment or accentuate numerous dishes.Raffaella loves seafood. She has been talking about a good fish dinner for some time. Since I am doing most of the cooking these days and fish is not one of my passions, I have always found a different solution. I learned long ago that a woman satisfied makes for a happy relationship. I delved into the archives of my mind to find something with fish and pesto. Recently we had prepared a reduced wine sauce with Mussels. Thus a perfect solution came to mind, Shrimp in a wine sauce with pesto. We drank Pinot...
More About: Wine , Pasta , Seafood

Understanding Italy ? Nobility, wines, food and jeans
2007-06-17 01:11:00
Italy has some basic rules. Just about everyone is of noble blood or knows someone of royalty. Some areas make fantastic, complex, refined wines while others, just a few miles away traditionally produce young simple table wines. Only in the last twenty years have some producers of heirloom wines, dating back to the Roman Empire, began creating some marvelous complex wines. Just when you think you know Italian cooking you take a ½ train ride and potatoes become rice and then rice becomes pasta. Local stores no longer carry twenty types of Taleggio instead they have twenty types of fresh fish. In the home of fashion, seventy percent of Italians say that a gentleman does not wear jeans.Italy is complex. The Italy that you know is not the Italy I know. Our families may come from the same region. We may have lived just miles apart but your traditions will not be the same as mine. This is confusing for many foreigners. They think that the only difference between Milan and Rome is the arch...
More About: Food , Italy , Jeans , Jean , Wines

Men?s Fashion Shows in Milan June 2007
2007-06-14 17:22:00
Ladies, if you are interested in statuesque men with marbled features then Milan is the place for you. The 2008 Spring ? Summer men?s fashion shows will all be in town during the weekend of the 23rd to the 27th of June . Over 50 designers will be presenting in various locations starting Saturday. I believe my female readers will be interested in knowing that over 5,000 young, very fit, good looking, eligible men will be strolling the streets of Milan and visiting the numerous nightclubs. This is obviously in addition to the great Milanese already in the city.The 5 day calendar starts Saturday June 23 with Jill Sander at 11 AM. In the same day she is followed by Costume National Homme, Gaetano Navarra, Missoni, Burberry Prorsum, Gianni Versace, J. Lindeberg, Denis Simachev, and the two Belgium designers Les Hommes e Dries Van Noten. The most buzz is about Dries Van Noten, the only first timer of the week.Sunday the 24th Bottega Veneta, Antonio Marras, Frankie Morello, Gianfranco Ferrè...
More About: Fashion , Fashion Shows , Lombardia

Virtual Tour of the Eternal City
2007-06-12 20:08:00
Vacationing in the city of Rome is about to become much easier. Just think about wandering into the Senate, the Forum, the Pantheon and the Coliseum as they were in 320 AD. While strolling via Giulia you will overhear a private conversation between the Senators or you may meet a street vendor selling sandals. The technicians have recreated 31 monuments and 7,000 buildings. Characters have been diligently researched and personalities created to interact with the audience.The city and several private interests have teamed up to create a virtual tour of Rome during the Roman Empire. A theater and 3D glasses are the forum for this look into Rome as it was. This project is the end result of 10 years of study and covers 19 km of ancient Rome inside the Aurelia Wall. The show is called ?Rewind Rome? and can be seen starting the 21 April in the restructured theater of via Capo d?Africa.This is a great way to see Rome for the first time. Before tracking around the city this half hour virtual...
More About: Tour , City , Virtual , Lazio , Museums

Tuscan Chianti Beef Stew ? Stracotto al Chianti Toscano
2007-06-11 21:28:00
Our cooking buddies have a communal cellar. Like most of us they have been accumulating wines over the past 10 years. Recently we realized that some of the vintages were beginning to get up there in years. This is a good thing for complex wines but many of these wines are great dinner wines that should not be aged. We had already lost a couple of bottles to Alzheimer?s disease. We decided to check the cellar list and found that there were many 10+ year bottles of Chianti .A wine that has aged too long is not a pleasure to drink but we feel it is a sin to pour them out. The search began for traditional recipes with Chianti. A couple of emails later and Stra cotto al Chianti became our recipe for the day. I had never had this dish but further research revealed that this recipe is widely used in Tuscany . As I scanned the ingredients I realized that by making this dish I risked the wrath of Raffaella. The ingredients will add a touch of sweet to the sauce; something she does not like. For...
More About: Beef , Scan

Things to do in Venice Summer 2007 ?San Lazzaro degli Armeni
2007-06-09 01:46:00
The biennale of Venice gets under way this week. If you are not into sitting through numerous several hour showings of ?Artistic? films you will be looking for other things to do while visiting the romantic city of Venice.How about a ride on a motorboat to the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni?The island is located in the lagoon of Venice and inhabited by Monks. In reality, the monastery is the only thing that is on the little island. The building and gardens are tediously perfect, beautiful and balanced in color and form. The monastery is open to the public from 15:00-17:00 (that is 3-5 pm for our American readers) every day and is worth a visit. It is a bit different than everything else in Venice. While the monks charge a fee to visit the monastery, the funds are used for maintenance and charitable work. The monastery is an opportunity to see Venetian architecture without the touristy, pushy atmosphere that penetrates most places in Venice.San Lazzaro is named after St. Lazarus,...
More About: Summer , Veneto , Things , Nice

Valentino ? Celebration to 45 years of design
2007-06-06 20:57:00
I have heard this to be the most important fashion event of 2007. Gold plated invitations are already in the mail to the lucky participants of the two day, 5 event, celebration of Valentino?s 45 years in the fashion industry. Many are claiming Valentino the King of fashion and the exclusive event is destined to bring together modern nobility from the four corners of the earth. July 6th to July 8th will days of fashion shows, dinners, private meetings and a historical representation of the career of Valentino. The backdrop is the city of Rome .The entire area around the Coliseum will be adorned with images of the stylist?s designs. The fortunate holders of the gold invitations will be ushered to the Museum Ara Pacis at 11 AM on the sixth for a press conference and tour. That evening at 7:30, the second invitation opens the doors for the grand opening of the presentation, Valentino?s 45 years of Style. The evening could not conclude without dinner. The fortunate few, holding the third ...
More About: Design , Fashion , Celebration , Years

Car Shoe ? Travel shoes by Prada opens in Capri
2007-06-04 14:43:00
A passion for motor sports nurtured by an artisan shoemaker led to one of the most comfortable and now prestigious shoes available today. Gianni Mostile handcrafted shoes in the town of Vigevano, outside of Milan . In 1963 his two passions came together to create a business. Hand sewn moccasins, made of the finest leather, with a rubber sole designed to give the driver maximum comfort and control while driving. The shoes are favorites among world?s elite including Gianni Agnelli, JFK and Roberto Rossellini. The company was bought just a few year?s ago by Prada and most recently has moved from Via della Spiga 50 to Via della Spiga 1.What I found most interesting is that while the shoes are comfortable, the most important thing in this latest press release about the opening of a flagship store in Capri is the store?s design. The newly opened store has the exact same design and architecture as the store in Milan.What may be so interesting about that?Perhaps it is a recreation of the Cas...
More About: Travel , Shoes

The Islands of the Tuscan Coast ? Isola d?Elba
2007-05-31 19:47:00
The Island of Elba is the third largest Island of Italy. It is located about 10 km off the Tuscan shores in an area of 600 km of sea that makes up part of the National Park of the Arcipelago Toscano. Italian Wine Guy reminisced about times past, hiking in the Italian countryside, and living the Italian lifestyle away from the major tourist destinations. Isola d?Elba is one of those locations that foreign tourists will most likely never see. Italians love Island of Elba for its simpler environment, the beach and the sun.The Island of Elba has been a favorite destination since before the Roman Empire. The crystal clear waters and florid forests make this island a patch of greenery in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. It became one of my favorite spots during my sailing days. One of my favorite trips was the ?traversata?. The traversata is a trip from Livorno to Sardegna. The traversata is a marvelously relaxing trip. The islands just of the Tuscan coast were a great first stop for ...
More About: Tuscany , Agriturismo , Islands , Scan

Gaetano Navarra ? Pret a Porter Women?s Fashion Spring Summer 2007
2007-05-29 15:02:00
Italian Prêt a Porter Women ?s Fashion for the 2007 Spring and Summer season presents some interesting designs. I was not impressed when I first saw the Gaetano Navarra line. The lines are, for the most part, flowing and sensual but the fabrics were quite contemporary, almost eclectic. Many people love modern. I think that the clean lines of contemporary are important to a clean look but taken to the extreme they create emotions of barren, diminishing the sensuality of a woman. Gaetano Navarra based his line on layers, using both volume and texture. It makes me think of Shrek and his paragon that ogres are like onions.Needless to say I was short sighted. I looked at the outfits as complete wear instead of seeing the pieces individually. Matched with another designer or perhaps a simple pair of jeans and heels they take on a completely different personality. Mix and match pieces of the Navarra collection or popping up on the streets of Milan like blue bonnets on the highways of Texas....

Wine Tour Italy ? Open Cellars Memorial Day Weekend
2007-05-24 22:36:00
I have found there are two times during the year when a tour on the Italian wine trail becomes more interesting. The harvest in October is a unique occasion to participate in the wine making process, from gathering the grapes to fermenting the wine. The second is during the spring when one can have the first tastes of last year?s production. Italy is all about tourism and the Wine Tour ism Movement sponsors a nationwide tasting of the newly bottled wines. It is an opportunity to meet the producers, stay in some fantastic Agriturismo and get to know, first hand, about what is going to be available during the upcoming year.Italy is expecting well over a million wine lovers and tourists to flock to some 1,000 vineyards taking part in this year's Open Cellars event. Now in its 15th year, Open Cellars has been a pioneer in developing Italy's wine tourism sector attracting over four million people to the Italian countryside. Aside from seeing where and how wine is made, and discovering t...
More About: Italian Wine

The sauce of the Gentile Woman of the Country - Gentildonna di Campagna
2007-05-23 19:59:00
This is an elegant sauce for the noble of heart with simple means who wants to prepare an elegant dinner. Italians often convey important concepts with simple phrases. ?One is born noble, one cannot become noble,? said in Italian is ?Signore si nasce, non si diventa!? Just because one is born in the province does not mean that they cannot have a refined and sophisticated palate. This simple sauce uses ingredients commonly found on the farm in their simplest form. These are the basic food elements in a provincial farmer?s everyday diet. The things he grows in the field or garden. Bell peppers, eggplant, garlic, and basil are the mysterious ingredients.The resulting sauce is velvety and perhaps a bit hot spicy. To the untrained palate there is an immediate taste of a Mussel Marinara sauce. This then gives way to the soft flavor of the smooth bell peppers and the bite of the garlic. The sweet Basil completes the progression of flavors leaving the mouth ready to start all over again. Do...
More About: Country , Vegetables , Pasta , Sauces , Woman

Osso Buco with red sauce
2007-05-17 22:02:00
I know that most just want to read the recipe, know where it came from or why there are several versions of the same dish but I think food is part of life. As if our existence had several crossed together with weights on the ends. There we are, in the middle, trying to stay upright while the platform tilts one way or another. Food, wine, friends, work, travel, culture, education and relax are all things that make the platform swing. Recipes are tied to events, dinners with friends, or just time when we can quietly enjoy rich flavors and each other?s company. We are from Milan . In our section of the woods Osso buco is made with a white sauce and served with a bit of Risotto alla Milanese. When we told our cooking buddies that we intended to make Osso Buco, they immediately told us of how much they loved Osso Buco and the marvelous, velvety red sauce.This is a sacrilege, although the traditional Milanese Restaurant Gran S. Bernardo prepares Osso Buco with red sauce. We cook, more than...
More About: Meat , Lombardia , Sauce

Women?s Fashion on the Riviera 2007 ? Skin is In
2007-05-14 20:45:00
Recently I wrote about the 2007 beachwear fashion tendencies promoted by the Italian designers. I truly expected to see a net move toward somewhat less revealing bathing suits and a return to colors and fabrics from the 60s. Well, the first big exodus from the cities to the beaches has come and gone and it looks like the designers have missed the season. I am definitely not complaining. The Italian Riviera reminds me of Carnival in Rio with lots of tanned skin as eye candy.There is a difference between the beaches on the East and West coasts of Italy. The East coast, because of the shallow sea, are the favorite destinations of families and have a great nightlife for the under 21 crowd while the west coast and Sardegna are more adult. Many cities on the East coast have passed decency ordinances particularly in from Ancona to Pescara. In these areas, bring shorts and a shirt or the outfits designed to wear over the bathing suit. Even when strolling the boardwalk city officials will fi...
More About: Women , Skin , Fashion , Viera

Agriturismo Casa Caponetti ? Wine, Olive Oil, Cooking School in Northern La
2007-05-11 21:54:00
With the dollar losing ground against the Euro many are thinking about postponing their vacations in Italy. This does not have to be the case. In the big cities of Milan, Rome, Florence and Venice the costs are significantly higher but choosing your destination with a bit of attention can result in a marvelous vacation at a very reasonable price. In southern Tuscany , just about 45 minutes north of Rome Agriturismo Casa Caponetti is a destination of full-immersion into provincial Italian culture. Casa Caponetti is in the land of some good wines but the best part about this Agriturismo is the combination of Olive Oil production and a cooking school. Yes, you can learn how to cook traditional dishes from the locals.Casa Caponetti produces a wonderful Olive Oil with low acidity and an earthy flavor. As most producers they have a wide range of Virgin and Extra Virgin Oils. The top of the range is a cold press unfiltered Extra Virgin Oil. From its own 500 olive trees, Casa Caponetti produ...
More About: Cooking , Wine , School

Italian Fashion ? Handbags Spring Summer 2007
2007-05-08 21:21:00
The 2007 Spring and Summer collection expands is somewhat retro. Big hats and big handbags from the 50s and 60s are back as well. Raffaella is salivating over many of the designer?s outfits but the continuing themes she loves are the handbags. I admit, I do not get excited about handbags or purses. Shoes are a different subject and hats can be intriguing, but handbags. Perhaps this is the consequence of becoming the depository of the handbag whenever my female companion had something else in her hands or wanted to go into someplace where the purse would not be appropriate. There I am, standing in some hall somewhere, holding the purse.I can understand the why the purse is so fascinating. No matter how big or small it can hold the documents of a small country. Many times I have watched in amazement as Raffaella emulated Mary Poppins and pulled the most inconceivable objects out of her purse.As we went through the photographs of the 2007 Spring and Summer collection she was ecstatic, ...
More About: Fashion , Handbags , Italian

Poggio Antico ? Not just a winery ? Visit Montalcino
2007-05-06 23:24:00
Vacationing in Montalcino . The great wines of Tuscany are not the only reason to visit this area. Many wineries not only make wine, but also produce Olive Oil and may have a small restaurant. I have found that while the wine may be really good the true attraction is one of the ancillary services they offer. Poggio Antico is one of these wineries. Located in Montalcino the restaurant is one of the best places to eat in the area. Considering this is in the heart of Tuscany that is saying something.The Poggio Antico restaurant is owned by the winery but is run by the husband and wife team, Roberto e Patrizia Minnetti. The menu? is constantly changing as the finest and freshest ingredients are employed to prepare traditional regional plates. The menu? is also carefully choreographed to the elegant wines of the winery. Desserts are prepared in house and local cheeses are part of the attraction. The ambiance of the restaurant is that of a traditional Tuscan villa, elegant yet sober.This r...
More About: Wineries , Visi , Visit

Verduzzo Friulano ? Autochthon White Wine from Friuli
2007-05-06 00:11:00
Verduzzo, Vermentino, Verdicchio, Vernaccia, all are difficult names to remember, all are white wines and they all sound a little alike. So they must all be the same. Nothing could be farther from the truth. To add to the confusion Verduzzo Friulano is made both as a dry white and refined sweet wine. Verduzzo Friulano is an Autochthon wine dating back into ancient times. Once widely grown in Northern Italy today it is primarily grown in the areas of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the northeastern section of Veneto. The dry version is grown in the plains for Friuli and is called Verduzzo Verde (green) while the sweet version, harvested later in the fall is grown in the hills and is called Verduzzo Giallo (yellow). Both versions are highly coveted by the locals of northeastern Italy. Usually the sweet version will be called by the name of the region in which it is grown while the dry Verduzzo will indicate that it is Verduzzo Friulano.A marvelous dinner could include both wines. The dry Ve...
More About: Wine , White , Italian Wine , Lano

Trussardi Women?s Beach Fashion Spring Summer 2007
2007-05-04 21:23:00
Women?s summer fashion and women?s beach fashion often become the same thing in the mind of Italian designers. Perhaps they have the idea that women should spend the summer on vacation, in exotic locations, catching rays and generally enjoying life. I am all for that one, not only for women. Trussardi?s line has always been part of my personal wardrobe while rarely I will say that Trussardi is my favorite designer in any particular season. Somehow the designs are wearable. They just seem to fit with other things. They are the perfect compliment. Strangely enough, Trussardi seems to be very affordable. Trussardi?s creations are found, not just in the high-end stores, but also in numerous medium priced establishments, often without any special annotation. The women?s collection is no different.Spring temperatures in the 70s across the Italian peninsula create the desire for endless days on the beach but do not support, except for a few hours in the afternoon, the almost nude attire of...
More About: Women , Fashion , Beach , Summer , Milan

Festa del Lavoro ? Labor Day
2007-05-01 18:04:00
Happy Labor Day! This international celebration is part of US culture and history. You can find out why in my post Fest a del Lavoro!
More About: Festa

Cozze Marinara ? Linguine Mussel Marinara
2007-04-30 17:21:00
May 1 is Labor Day for most of the world. Labor Day has meant a few days in the Umbrian hills, cooking lasagna in an outdoor wood burning oven, crostini on a fire pit and Linguine with a Mussel Mari nara Sauce. Most Italian regions will have their own version of this dish. Some will even have a hint of fresh tomato or cherry tomato but none of them have anything to do with the ?Marinara? found US. Marinara means from the sea, not usually a great place to grow tomatoes.The perfect wines for this dish include Greco di Tufo, Falangina, Vernaccia, Verdicchio or Vermentino.Ingredients:3 lbs. (1.5 kg) Mussels4 cloves Garlic1 medium onion2 Bay leaves5 tbs. Olive Oil1 cup dry White Wine1 tbs. chopped fresh Italian Parsley¼ lbs. (110 g) Linguine per personSalt & PepperA pinch crushed peperoncino.Preparation:Scrub the Mussels under running cold water. Set aside. Mince the onion.Place 2 tbs. Olive Oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, Bay leaves, Mussels and two cloves of...
More About: Pasta , Seafood , Guin , Nara