michele becci

When Antonio Bandini was 15 years old, he enrolled in a watercolor painting class in his hometown of Livorno, Italy. One day his teacher approached him and expressed a desire to enter one of his paintings in an art competition …

With the weather turning quite chilly here on the east coast, I crave the simple pleasures of the season – the comforting aroma from a pot of soup simmering on the stove; an afternoon curled up near a fire with …

I still remember the first time I crossed paths with a sformato.  I was traveling through Italy with a few friends and we stopped at a local trattoria in the countryside for lunch.  With no real plans for the afternoon, …

In my imaginary (yet-maybe-someday) life, I live on a little Italian hillside – nestled between the dreamy blue-tinged sea and vibrant fragrant hills of grapevine. Golden hues of sun filter across my gardens, overflowing with the scents and tastes of …

My paternal grandfather grew up on Italy’s Adriatic coast in the small village of Senigallia in Le Marche.  I remember little of my grandfather as he passed away when I was only six years of age but I do have …