La Buona Tavola

The term quinto quarto, “the fifth quarter,” refers to a type of cuisine born from poor, peasant kitchens, and the term itself originates from Rome.The fifth quarter refers to everything that is not included in the four quarters in which …

Aompany coming? Impress your guests with a spectacular timballo di riso, a Sicilian dish named after the mold in which it is typically made. The preparation can be a bit time-consuming but the result is worth the effort – a …

As big as a Robin’s egg, mildly tart with a hint of sweetness, and just-perfect chewy only begins to describe an Ascolana olive. Biting into one is a much finer manner of introduction to this enticing little fruit…and I was …

You want clear lights on the tree, I think multi-colored are prettier; you prefer ham on the holiday table, I say turkey is tastier; you rock out to modern Christmas carols, I sway to the oldies; you insist on a …

The Mediterranean Diet as a model of proper eating, as a balanced and sustainable lifestyle for both health and environment, was the main topic of the third edition of The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World. Promoted by the …

As the season cycles back to Fall and the air begins to chill, the Italian table is frequently graced with delicious roasts that highlight the flavors of the season.  Simple meats are elevated with the flavors of Autunno, whether stuffed …

Cotognata is a sweet jelly made from quince  and commonly known in English as quince paste. In Spain it is called membrillo. The quince is a special fruit, it is large and irregularly shaped and not eaten raw because of …

With rain forecast for the next few days, and as 1st November is a public holiday here in Italy, why not spend some time in the kitchen making a traditional Tuscan slice known as castagnaccio. It is very easy to …

If there is one reason to be be excited that summer is ending, it’s the appearance of freshly baked schiacciata con l’uva in the windows of local bakeries in Tuscany. If you have visited Florence or the Chianti area of …

Christmas desserts in Italy are usually always associated with panettone and pandoro, and people usually have a firm favorite of the two.  I love panettone for example and I am quite capable of eating a whole one by myself….. in …