My Big Article in Elle Decor

I have a big travel article on - what else – Florence in the October issue of Elle Decor, so check it out while it is still on the shelves. The editors found and commissioned beautiful photos to go with the text, and Florence Foodie herself is featured on the Contributors’ page – quite an honor.

 

My Cacciucco Article in Saveur

I’ve been very slow in posting this (been a little busy with new baby and all that, who is here lying next to me …), but I am my article on cacciucco, the sigature fish stew of Livorno, is finally out in the April issue of Saveur magazine. I’m very happy to write for them, since I’ve always liked the magazine a lot.

 

Fresh Cannellini – Who Knew?

It stands to figure that if a bean can be dried it must also exist in fresh form, but the season for some fresh beans is so short that you’ll miss it if you blink – or leave the country for a short trip. I have finally gotten around to cooking fresh cannellini beans. Just as the favas (or baccelli, if you’re Tuscan) are on their way out, the cannellini start to make an appearance. I noticed them first about a week ago, late May. The pods are longish and thinnish and are a nice white/light green color. Getting the beans out of the pods is not as easy as with peas or even favas – you have to work them a little. The beans are pleasantly oval, and of the same white-to-light-green color.

Once you’ve gotten them out of the pod, you can boil the beans in salted water over medium-high heat for 20-25 minutes, then dress them with lemon, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Toss in some chopped celery, and it’s delicious.

 

Welcome/Benvenuti

This is the first post of my food blog. For a long time I resisted the urge to blog because I am so very “old publishing,” having worked for several book publishing companies and paper magazines, as well as web sites. But I have decided – and been convinced – that this is the best way to get some ideas out there. And it seems to be pretty fun. Every week, and sometimes every day, I learn about new food-related ideas and products here in Florence. There is so much to talk about: salame rosa (who knew?), a new shop in the center selling artisanal panini, a slow food supermercato in Torino, a trip to Livorno to try the famous cacciucco …

 I hope people will find this useful as a forum for ideas and discussion about Italian food and wine, and also as a fun way of armchair traveling with me on my obsessive food adventures.