Chuck Pecoraro

It’s that time of year again. Spring segues into summer, followed by fall – a period usually reserved for a vacation. This is when many of us hit the highways, airways, or waterways to escape the routine way of life …

Standing in a grove of fig trees has been compared to being surrounded by wizards. The branches droop like long beards, making the trees appear ancient and wise. And as far as palates are concerned, the trees are like magic. Twice a …

As showtime approaches, long lines of auto and pedestrian traffic converge on Madison Square Garden in New York for a concert starring one of the world’s premier opera singers. Fans are arriving from near and far to see and hear Andrea …

Ask 10 employed people their opinion of the best job in the world, and don’t be surprised if you get 10 different responses ranging from serious to humorous to daydreaming. There’s one responder, however, who is likely to come up …

A cynic of Italian cuisine — a non-Italian — once observed that a  typical Italian diet consists mostly of pasta, pasta, and more pasta. While it’s true that most Italians and many Italian-Americans consume pasta by the bowlfuls on a regular …

In the sometimes snobbish, often ostentatious world of gourmet food, there are seared foie gras with rhubarb tart, hamachi with sea urchin vinaigrette, and kumamoto oysters with mango sorbet.  And then there’s Italian salami.   Italian salami? How does this processed meat …

When the sommelier of a deluxe New York hotel wheeled a trolley of fancy aperitifs into the dining room so guests could grandly start their meal, his job was only half done. Minutes later, he returned with another cart, this …

Enough has been written about Italian wine to fill one of Rome’s 28 libraries. This comes as no surprise since vino Italiano continues to generate volumes of narrative, conversation, internet posts, and loyal consumers the world over. Though Italian wine …

For centuries, in various parts of Northern Italy, working folks would fortify themselves before heading out into the bitter cold of winter. Their chosen potion usually was a local spirit distilled as a byproduct of grape residue left over from …

 What’s the difference between a bottle of wine priced at $3.95 and one that sells for $39,000? The factors that determine the price of wine are varied, volatile, and vague. Here’s an inside look at what you’re getting for your money. At …