South Tyrolean Branzoll Once every winter, several townships and villages in South Tyrol celebrate the ancient winter tradition of Nikolaus and Krampus. The celebration predates the Council of Trento (1545-1563) and probably the very early Crusades when, after 1095 A.D., Christians and Muslims fought over the Holy Land and the Spice Trade. Several Crusades were … Continue reading SOUTH TYROLEAN KRAMPUS AND NIKOLAUS – SAINT NICHOLAS OF MYRA, OF BARI, OF MANHATTAN AND LANCASTER, PENSYLVANIA
THE NORTHERN ITALIAN WEEKENDER
ON WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN AND FOOD… SALZBURG, VIENNA, AND NORTHERN ITALIAN ROVERETO
While the international music world celebrates, especially in Vienna, Ludwig van Beethoven's 250th birthday, there is the small northern Italian town of Rovereto, which has not forgotten another famous 18th century composer prodigy who visited three times the township: the Austrian Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born in Salzburg, Austria, on January 27th, 1756, fourteen years before … Continue reading ON WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN AND FOOD… SALZBURG, VIENNA, AND NORTHERN ITALIAN ROVERETO
STOCCAFISSO OR BACCALA’ – NORWEGIAN COD FOR TRADITIONAL NORTH ITALIAN WINTER DISHES –
Traveling throughout Northern Italy during the winter months, if you find trattoria-menues featuring dishes called either stoccafisso or baccala', what should you expect? Simply explained: Stoccafisso is the distortion of the term Stockfisch used by the ancient Hanseatic Alliance Germans who exported and distributed dried cod usually from Bergen throughout Central Europe, including Northern Italy. … Continue reading STOCCAFISSO OR BACCALA’ – NORWEGIAN COD FOR TRADITIONAL NORTH ITALIAN WINTER DISHES –
THANKSGIVING IN NORTHERN ITALY? PREPARE FOR IT! BEFORE THIS YEAR’S 28TH OF NOVEMBER
Are you planning to celebrate Thanksgiving in Northern Italy? Take care of orders and ingredients at least a week before this year's 28th of November! Unless you live on an American base, or your hotel or "pensione" is run by Americans for Americans be aware that Italians serve turkey at Christmas and not at Thanksgiving! … Continue reading THANKSGIVING IN NORTHERN ITALY? PREPARE FOR IT! BEFORE THIS YEAR’S 28TH OF NOVEMBER
TRENTO DOC WINES – TEROLDEGO, MUELLER THURGAU, NOSIOLA, MARZEMINO, AND SPARKLING BUBBLY WHITES
TEROLDEGO ROTALIANO Served during the famous Council of Trento (1545-1563) the red Teroldego might as well be considered the prince of Trentino's red wines. To recognize its authentic provenience and local denomination in 1971 the name Rotaliano was added referring to the plain where this wine thrives best. With its origin lost in wine history, … Continue reading TRENTO DOC WINES – TEROLDEGO, MUELLER THURGAU, NOSIOLA, MARZEMINO, AND SPARKLING BUBBLY WHITES
CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE IN TRENTINO’S CITY OF ROVERETO IN NORTHERN ITALY
Have you ever celebrated the winter holidays without either chocolate or coffee? I have not. Thick smooth dark and sweet chocolate drinks, chocolate balls wrapped in colored tissue paper, chocolate bon bons filled with special liqueurs or grappa, layered chocolate pralines, chocolate chip cookies, cookies rolled in chocolate sprinkles, layered jam filled Sacher tortes, chocolate … Continue reading CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE IN TRENTINO’S CITY OF ROVERETO IN NORTHERN ITALY
MILAN AND FERRAGOSTO – IF YOU VISIT THE ALMOST DESERTED METROPOLIS
It is possible that many of you have already visited Italy's second city with its dynamic hardworking down to earth fashionable people. Often travel packages include Milan on its way to Venice, may be Vicenza, Bologna, Florence and Rome. However, for a change, try to visit the "time is money" metropolis, home of banks, stock … Continue reading MILAN AND FERRAGOSTO – IF YOU VISIT THE ALMOST DESERTED METROPOLIS
FERRARA – CITY OF DUKES, DUCHESSES, COOKS, FOOD, CULTURE AND PALIO
Ferrara, once political center of the noble Este family, where Lucrezia Borgia daughter of Pope Alexander VI lived and was wife, mother and beloved duchess, has several places where to learn more about Northern Italian history and Italian regional cuisine. The city was also once the culinary test kitchen of Messisbugo, one of the most prominent … Continue reading FERRARA – CITY OF DUKES, DUCHESSES, COOKS, FOOD, CULTURE AND PALIO
IN ROVERETO (TRENTINO) – ACCORDING TO ACCADEMIA ITALIANA DELLA CUCINA OR ELSE?
A few months ago, one of the most recent delegations of the prominent Accademia Italiana della Cucina, founded in Rovereto in 2017, sponsored an interesting convention for those who wish to understand a little bit better how the quality of eating places is evaluated by renown guides such as Michelin, Touring Club Italia, Guide dell' … Continue reading IN ROVERETO (TRENTINO) – ACCORDING TO ACCADEMIA ITALIANA DELLA CUCINA OR ELSE?
The Ways to Salt and Wine
Too often we take salt for granted, especially throughout Northern Italy where salt comes either from Alpine Mountains (salgemma) or from the Adriatic and Ligurian Sea (sale marino). It was not so during the Middle Ages; in fact, then it was called White Gold. Salt entered Northern Italian wealthy and poor households through merchants who … Continue reading The Ways to Salt and Wine
CULINARY ROOTS & RECIPES™ 