RECIPES

BACK TO BUCKWHEAT CULTURE TO CELEBRATE SOUTH TYROLEAN AND TRENTINO’S GLUTENFREE WINTER HOLIDAYS

Elisabetta 4 Comments

Traveling around the world is an interesting and exciting experience. Returning to one's roots and enjoying familiar foods is as joyful as experiencing a new voyage adventure. Tasting old heritage foods can be for some of us like winning a free ticket to a super screen movie. I grew up around a South Tyrolean-Trentino family … Continue reading BACK TO BUCKWHEAT CULTURE TO CELEBRATE SOUTH TYROLEAN AND TRENTINO’S GLUTENFREE WINTER HOLIDAYS

HONORING THOSE ANCIENT CARNIVAL TRADITIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL SEASONAL FOODS AND AMERICAN BEEF

Elisabetta 1 Comment

Hard to say when the tradition of Carnival began. The origins of the festival also known as Mardi Gras or Shrovetide are truly lost in time. According to the Italian cultural anthropologist Giovanni Kezich, the story of the Carnival season dates back to pagan times. Today it is a season that includes Shrove Sunday, Shrove … Continue reading HONORING THOSE ANCIENT CARNIVAL TRADITIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL SEASONAL FOODS AND AMERICAN BEEF

IN THE NAME OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL! THE 2025 SUPER BOWL LIX (59) WITH LOSERS AND WINNERS, CHICKEN WINGS, TORTILLA CHIPS, GUACAMOLE AND NOT PURPLE BUT YELLOW GATORADE!

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One of the most important American football events took place on Sunday, February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The final score was Philadelphia Eagles with 40 points and Kansas Chiefs with 22 points. Fans of either side cried, booed or celebrated. Food of choice for many Americans included chicken wings, tortilla chips, guacamole, ribs, … Continue reading IN THE NAME OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL! THE 2025 SUPER BOWL LIX (59) WITH LOSERS AND WINNERS, CHICKEN WINGS, TORTILLA CHIPS, GUACAMOLE AND NOT PURPLE BUT YELLOW GATORADE!

SOUTH TYROLEAN KRAMPUS AND NIKOLAUS – ZELTEN AND ORANGE PUNCH

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Once every winter, several townships and villages in the Autonomous Region of South Tyrol and Trentino 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. … Continue reading SOUTH TYROLEAN KRAMPUS AND NIKOLAUS – ZELTEN AND ORANGE PUNCH

SPANISH ANDALUSIA: TO EACH ITS OWN – Aguadulce, Roquetas de Mar, Seville and the Barrio and Mercado de Triana

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If you dream of white beaches and warm weather, book yourself into a place in Aguadulce. There enjoy good tostadas, tapas, gaspachos, sangrias, paella, or migas and bacalao frito. Relax on lounge chairs covered by straw sun umbrellas. Then, stroll through alleys flanked by palm trees to the Ciringuito beach cabanas. In one of them, … Continue reading SPANISH ANDALUSIA: TO EACH ITS OWN – Aguadulce, Roquetas de Mar, Seville and the Barrio and Mercado de Triana

SOUTH TYROLEAN “TOERGELLEN” AT THE GRIESSERHOF IN VHARN, NORTHERN ITALY

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"Toergellen" in the Northern Italian Autonomous Region of South Tyrol is an ancient tradition as wine itself. For locals, "Toergellen" is almost a must-be-done-event during the fall months of October and November. They take family members, friends, neighbors and guests and walk throughout the Alpine landscape. You should try it. Stop and look at the … Continue reading SOUTH TYROLEAN “TOERGELLEN” AT THE GRIESSERHOF IN VHARN, NORTHERN ITALY

Calabrian Stocco: From Norsemen Merchandise to Southern Italian Cuisine

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If you agree with me that: "We Are What We Eat..." (D.R. Gabaccia, 2000, Harvard University Press), who should we believe are those modern Calabrian Aspromonte "stocco" eaters who, after importing today the dried cod from the land of the Norsemen, soak it in fresh Aspromonte mountain spring water, sell it, distribute it, and prepare … Continue reading Calabrian Stocco: From Norsemen Merchandise to Southern Italian Cuisine

CHILI PEPPERS, CHOCOLATE MOLE AND TEXAS STYLE CHILI – FOR A CORONA VIRUS QUARANTINE DIET

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Wild chili peppers - © Elisabetta Giacon 2020 - - By now I am sure, those of us who followed updated TV and radio news about the Corona Virus Scare, and those who received stay-well calls or messages from all over the world, will agree with me; we need a break from bad news in … Continue reading CHILI PEPPERS, CHOCOLATE MOLE AND TEXAS STYLE CHILI – FOR A CORONA VIRUS QUARANTINE DIET

STOCCAFISSO OR BACCALA’ – NORWEGIAN COD FOR TRADITIONAL NORTH ITALIAN WINTER DISHES –

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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

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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