Life + Style

My grandmother used to say that saffron was more precious than gold, and she did have a point, as it had been for centuries one of the most costly spices. The word saffron, or “zafferano” as we say in Italian, …

Never mind the season, it’s always a good time to have aperitivo with friends. A great way to end the day or the working week in good company, this quintessentially Italian habit has become pretty popular around the world, where …

Finally, temperatures in Italy are what you’d expect for mid-fall. While not everyone is a cold-weather lover rain, chilly mornings and snow are necessary for nature to complete its yearly cycle and for crops to develop normally. So, yes. It’s …

This year, we celebrate the 7th edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, an initiative that runs across the world with the support and participation of the Italian consular and diplomatic network, and that involves local Italian …

The story of Luxottica is the epitome of the American Dream but it happened in Italy. It is the largest eyewear-producing company in the world and, more likely than not, your own glasses are a Luxottica product, if you think …

Italian food, in general, is a celebration on the plate of what is seasonal and local. In Chianti, some of the best eating of the year is to be found in autumn, which is a very busy period, since it …

Who doesn’t have a jar of honey in the pantry? A naturally healthy and versatile product, honey has a place in many a recipe but it is often used as an eco-friendly ingredient to keep our skin supple, too – …

In Rome, this year, the magic of Christmas has the scents of cedar and larch. The welcoming embrace of the Colonnato del Bernini is the backdrop for a wooden marvel created by 11 skillful artists and craftsmen, a Nativity in …

Today, Italian food is known all over the world and our diet, the Mediterranean, is considered one of the healthiest. The importance we give to tradition in the kitchen is legendary, so it isn’t surprising that so many of our …

Back in the late ‘80s, when I was still in elementary school, we used to study every region of Italy. Each week, we’d prepare a ricerca, a two- or three-page essay with photos and drawings, about the region we focused …