Polenta, a popular staple in Europe was served in Abruzzo in a very unique way. As kids, we would get excited when we saw Mom take out the long polenta board, a little smaller than our kitchen table. On polenta day, there was no table to set since we would be eating off the board.…

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food”  —George Bernard Shaw Rich and poor tend to eat a similar healthy diet in Italy, versus in America where there is a greater distinction in diet between socio-economic classes. Raised in an Italian household, the only canned items I recall from my childhood were sardines…

Seeking quality is why it seems to taste better sometimes in Italy—no chemicals. The Italians tend to seek out the best when they have to purchase a food item, often  going to the source if possible from their own region. Our experience in the Abruzzo restaurant noted in my book Convivio, verifies this when the…

Raised with real food in childhood one will most likely seek real food as an adult. This is my observation experiencing the food choices of my Italian adult friends. Unfortunately the industry is making headways into the youth diet that will have detrimental consequences  to them as adults. It is up to parents to expose…

“What is patriotism but the love of good things we ate in our childhood” —Lin Yutang Being Italian, fish was consumed more often than meat in my childhood, due to the quantity and variety Italians experience having a 9000 mile coast line. Tourist may not be aware of fish as an Italian staple seeing the…

“THE OLIVE TREE IS THE RICHEST GIFT OF HEAVEN” —Thomas Jefferson “Anyone who has uprooted or felled an olive tree either property of the government or the state or private citizen will be judged in court and if found guilty will be sentenced to death”. I would say that Aristotle in quoting the constitution of…

My mother never trusted any food if she could not confirm its origin. Therefore, she always bought whole items, even when purchasing such things as spices. In many Italian kitchens, one finds hanging displays of hot small red peppers or braided, dried fresh garlic, instead of bottles of flakes that often contain chemicals or additives…

It’s not always possible in our hurried society, but if there is a mother, father or grandparent in the kitchen, children are more apt to learn to cook. As a bonus, they will come to enjoy a variety of foods while learning the art of cooking and eating. The missing elder in the kitchen is…