Lucy Ann Vallera Luhan

It is important that children learn about quality foods, preferably before the age of five. Then the marketers, food industry, their peers and the media begin to influence and teach them social taboos often against quality foods while pushing processed foods. The industry’s concern is profit, not the health and wellbeing of the individual. It…

Although the quarantine has had a profound effect on altering our daily lives, if we are healthy there could be a silver lining for families.  What a great opportunity for families to have fun together in the kitchen. All age groups can benefit and the rewards are endless. Why not beef up on cooking skills…

Why are some olive oils so expensive and others at bargain prices? Hopefully today’s harvest at Villa Lucia can answer this question. Morning—pickers at Villa Lucia.   Afternoon – Villa Lucia’s olive at the mill   Evening –Olive oil being canned at Villa Lucia. Ready to be shipped to friends in Philadelphia   This is…

Although the quarantine has had a profound effect on altering our daily lives, if we are healthy there could be a silver lining for families.  What a great opportunity for families to have fun together in the kitchen. All age groups can benefit and the rewards are endless. Why not beef up on cooking skills…

Food Culture is learned at an early age. Is it because it is considered tastier meat or strictly not to waste a costly item  that Italian mammas are known for teaching their kids to eat the meat off  the bone?  Saving labor cost of filleting the meat as well as the waste involved, made purchases…

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…