a memoir of the foods of India I have always enjoyed books that mix storytelling with delicious recipes. Food Sutra – a memoir of the foods of India is one of those books. Don’t get me wrong, it is not a “recipe book” in the typical sense; although you will learn about many dishes and […]
RABBIT AGNOLOTTI
Delicate and unique I realize that many of you have never eaten rabbit before, let alone cooked it but if you’ve ever wanted to try it, you’ll want to keep reading. I am going to go out on a limb and say it is one of my favourite meats. Delicate and unique, rabbit can be […]
Olio di Vino
Little hill town The closest town to us, out here in the woods, is a little medieval village called Ficulle. It’s a charming, well kept little hill town with a tight knit community of hard working people. Known for its potters over the centuries, Ficulle still produces a very distinct style of pottery that is […]
TRUFFLED EGGS
Truffled eggs Here is a great recipe for New Year’s Day brunch. It’s as easy as making deviled eggs and you can prepare the eggs, ready to cook, the day before. We are crazy about all things truffle and love using truffle salsa as an easy and somewhat less expensive way to get our fix. […]
Life at Al Settimo Cielo
Green rolling hills of Umbria Travel north out of Orvieto towards the small village of Ficulle up into the green rolling hills of Umbria and you will find us hidden deep in the forest. We have taken on a house sit at a remarkable property that resides on top of its own hill. Seven terraces […]
BEEF INVOLTINI WITH PORCINI & ARTICHOKE
Little packages As a chef I love to draw inspiration from the markets and the seasonal change. Italy is particularly good about eating in season since they are tied so tightly to the land and what is happening in the garden. In winter the hunters are out whether it be for truffles, mushrooms or wild […]
CARDOON TWO WAYS
Vegetarians rejoice! This week, as promised, we are bringing you two variations on one classic dish. Cardoon is vegetable you may have seen in your grocery store or specialty market but had no idea what it was or how to prepare it. It’s a vegetable I have had only a handful of times before, it’s […]
When in Rome, DRIVE!
Within the ancient city Only Rome can house the controlled chaos that surrounds you, like an explosion of Italian passion, confined within the ancient city. The streets are seemingly always alive with the sounds of scooters and cars frantically racing to the next roundabout along with hordes of people weaving down sidewalks, around endless parked cars […]