TRAVELLING AROUND EUROPE

Kielbasa, Kolaches and Peace: A Historical Perspective

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Is it possible to LEARN FROM CONTEMPORARY HISTORY FOR PEACE? I would say yes, if we don't embrace cultural snobbism, self-righteousness, unforgiveness, greed and avarice. To learn from contemporary history we can also add friendliness. We can include fundraising for a good cause, open-mindedness, music, singing, smiling, chatting, and sharing food and drinking a little … Continue reading Kielbasa, Kolaches and Peace: A Historical Perspective

VINITALY – 57th INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRITS TRADE SHOW – 6-9 April 2025 in VERONA, NORTHERN ITALY –

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During a recent prolonged April weekend, the Northern Italian city of Verona hosted thousands of visitors for the VINITALY 2025. Modern kissing couples and tourists, interested in the ancient and romantic city of Verona, home city of Romeo and Juliet, not only gathered under downtown's Juliet's balcony. Many of them moved also beyond Piazza Bra … Continue reading VINITALY – 57th INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRITS TRADE SHOW – 6-9 April 2025 in VERONA, NORTHERN ITALY –

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

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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

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

APULIA – A REGION OF SUNSHINE, ANCIENT HISTORY AND SUPERB FOOD

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 Halfway between Lucera and Andria, Apulian towns famous for their fort-castles built during the middle of the 13th century by the Norman German Frederick II (1194-1250), Holy Roman Emperor , King of Sicily, King of Italy and King of Jerusalem, and 40 minutes away from the port city of Bari, I discovered a portion … Continue reading APULIA – A REGION OF SUNSHINE, ANCIENT HISTORY AND SUPERB FOOD

ON WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN AND FOOD… SALZBURG, VIENNA, AND NORTHERN ITALIAN ROVERETO

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Settimana Mozartiana in 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 –

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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 –