Author Archives: Eric

Tasting 100 of Italy’s best wines

Posted on 9 April 2013

While Vinitaly is the most important wine event on the Italian calendar, the most memorable part of the action-packed week (if talking and tasting wine can be considered action) actually takes place the day before the trade fair begins. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Lombardy, Piedmont, Sicily, Tuscany, Wine | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A liqueur Hemingway would certainly drink

Posted on 17 February 2013

My fascination with Italian spirits (the alcoholic kind) started at age 15 when I read A Farewell to Arms, where Henry and his cohorts spend an inordinate amount of time drinking grappa to gloss over the horrors of the war … Continue reading →

Posted in Puglia, Recipes, Salento | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Italy’s answer to your respiratory maladies

Posted on 23 January 2013

After you’ve seen Florence, Venice and Rome then returned to Italy for the Cinque Terre, Tuscany, Milan, Lecce, Naples and Palermo there will still be much to see and do. You can walk volcanoes, search for white truffles in Piedmont … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Coolest Advent calendar in the world is here in Milan

Posted on 19 December 2012

Innovative Advent calendars are nothing new yet Milan might be breaking new ground with one in Piazza Duomo. Every day from December 1 until the 24th a window on one of the buildings facing the square opens at 6 pm … Continue reading →

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Sights and Sounds of Catania’s Fish Market (including a guy cleaning squid with his teeth)

Posted on 18 April 2012

The scene – I’m walking around Catania’s lively fish market last week, the day after having hiked Mount Etna. I run into a guy from Hong Kong who was in my group hiking the volcano. Guy from Hong Kong: I … Continue reading →

Posted in Markets, Sicily | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments