Alida says: “I love to cook and I love to eat!

I am an Italian living in England and like most Italians I am food-obsessed. I love to re-create dishes my mum would do for me as a child.

The greatest reward is to be able to share your cooking with the people you love most.

I believe in ingredients which are locally sourced and in season whenever possible as this is the secret for the greatest tasting meals.

Let’s go back to how food used to be, made from wholesome, good ingredients. Let’s embrace the slow food movement. Taking time to cook yourself a decent meal should always come as a priority. After all we are what we eat!”

The Questions and Answers:

1. Can you remember the first dish you learned how to cook?

I started cooking as a teenager; my favourite hobby was baking during the long Italian school summer holidays. I first started baking simple cakes and only later moved onto cooking proper meals.

My first proper dish was a simple pasta with fresh tomato sauce which I actually did with the help of my mum. Making proper passata takes a bit of expertise and experience. My family, having always been a voracious one, would polish up everything very quickly. That was certainly rewarding and made me want to cook more!

2. What three things are always in your fridge?

Parmesan cheese, eggs and lots of radicchio or salad. I use Parmesan daily; a pasta without it is like a cake without a cherry on the top and I like my green leafs with every meal. You always need eggs in the fridge for cooking or in case you feel inspired to bake a cake. Inspiration for baking can come when you least expect it!

3. Best cooking advice or tip you ever received?

Good things are made slowly. You cannot rush too much in the kitchen. Slow cooked food always tastes better than something made in a hurry.

4. What inspired you to create your food blog? Did you have a clear idea from the start?

Being a full time mum has helped me improve my cookery skills. Weaning my two babies was when I really began putting all my beliefs into practice. I took great pleasure in making little meals from scratch. Sourcing organic and fresh ingredients daily, quickly became a job on its own along with an extraordinary euphoria and excitement for cooking, which was growing stronger and stronger; I just could never get enough of it. Fresh and healthy meals turned into little projects for me! As the children grew out of the weaning stage, I began cooking different meals every week so I decided to start a website about Italian cookery that would allow me to share my recipes and get feedback.

5. What do you know and think about other food bloggers?

It is amazing how much you can learn from other food bloggers. By having a food blog you become part of an online community, you can make virtual friends who share the same passion for food and be inspired by their creations and ideas. There are many talented people out there who have lots to offer. I often see better recipes on blogs than anywhere else. You know that it is passion driving them and that’s why many blogs stand out.

6. Let’s talk favourite things, recipe and why?

I love to involve my children in cooking . We often bake together and children are so keen on learning especially when there is pastry, cakes and pizza, a little bit like play-dough! Also we enjoy days out to farms and places to show them where food comes from. My favourite recipe is pizza. I make it every week. I love it because it is a treat for the whole family and if there is any left over it will taste even better the following day.

7. Ingredient?

Olive oil! There is very little I could do without using olive oil. Of course this is a key ingredient in Italian cooking and most recipes require olive oil. It is light and easy to digest not to mention all its nutritional value.

8. Comfort food?

My beloved minestrone with plenty of beans! It is refreshing, healthy and nutritious. It takes me right back to my childhood. During the summer months my mum would use just homegrown vegetables from the garden to make it, so just imagine the taste of that minestrone!

9. Cookbook?

Jamie Oliver: “Jamie’s Italy”. I like Jamie’s down to earth attitude to food and cooking. He is my favourite chef.

10. Last meal on earth?

Give me some shellfish! A large plate of chargrilled seafood please!

Thank you Alida a for your time and answers.

For further details check out the Alida’s blog at My Little Italian Kitchen or contact Alida and follow My Little Italian Kitchen on facebook at: www.facebook.com/italianhomecooking

Check out all the Top Italian food blogs and websites to follow in 2013 and more Food and Wine Interviews.

An Interview with Alida Zamparini belongs to Italian Reflections

It(aly) makes cents: Turin by Lara Statham

Turin sits elegantly astride the River Po with an Alpine backdrop; once home to the Royal House of Savoy, its grand palazzos, imposing churches and beautiful piazzas make it a truly unique Italian city.

And you don’t need to spend a fortune; indeed you can have a great time in Turin in 10 tempting spots for just 10 euros…!

Visit
17th Century dwelling of Anne d’Orleans, Villa della Regina, Strada Santa Margherita is free to visitors. Magnificent – don’t miss! Free

Marvel
Marvel indeed at this luxuriously decorated church. La Consolata, Piazza della Consolata is also conveniently located opposite Cafe Al Bicerin. Free

Explore
Just walk and explore Turin’s historical centre on foot…Piazza Castello, Il Quadrilatero, La Cittadella, Il Centro and La Collina…Free

Be amazed
An abundance of fresh produce to tempt the taste buds at Porta Palazzo market, much at just €1 a kilo.

Break
Hip and arty, La Drogheria, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 18 is for breaks with style. Espresso just €1.

Contemplate
Passion for reading at Circolo Dei Lettori, via Bogino, 9. Relax in a quiet, contemplative, stress free zone for Free.

People watch
Take in the majestic surroundings and soak up the atmosphere in Carlo di Castellamonte’s beautifully designed Piazza San Carlo. Free

Music
Café des Arts, via Principe Amedeo, 33/f, an exhibition space for young artists and musicians, hosts free weekly concerts. Free

Window-shop
It has to be via Roma! Lined with elegant porticos and designer boutiques…Perfect for an afternoon passeggiata. Free

Aperitivo
Café Roberto, via Po, 5 boasts one of the most sumptuous aperitifs in town. Combine with Prosecco for €8!

Lara says: “Originally from the UK. I’m now a freelance journalist and writer here in Turin, where I’ve lived and worked for the past 15 years. Since I feel like I’ve lived here for so long, and seen so many changes in this great city, I think it’s time people knew about the place. Everyone knows Florence, Rome and Venice but not many people know about the real Turin…”

Please join me at  This is Turin to find out more about this wonderful city.

Next stop…Rome with Rick Zullo!

Enjoy Turin For Just 10 Euros belongs to Italian Reflections

Three Italian Restaurants made the Top 50, whilst France and the U.S.A. were the two countries with the most number of restaurants on the list with six places each in the top 50.

The Italian Restaurants were:

At number 3, Osteria Francescana , Modena, Emilia Romagna, where tradition and modernity collide under chef-patron Massimo Bottura.

The Restaurant says: “Our Cooking is a collision of ideas, cultures, techniques and gestures.”

At number 27, Le Calandre, Padua, Veneto, where Massimiliano ‘Max’ Alajmo’s cooking is traditional with the occasional contemporary twist.

The Restaurant says: “Max’s cuisine is based on the concepts of depth, lightness and fluidity, is poetry on a plate. Inspiration for his distinctive dishes comes from looking at the world with a sense of discovery.”

At number 40, Combal.Zero, Rivoli, Turin, where extreme culinary boundary-pushing becomes an art form under chef-patron Davide Scabin.

The Restaurant says: “Davide calculates and codifies everything from the rhythm of the cooking times to the handling and service.”

For the full list check out The World’s 50 Best Restaurants website.

3 Italian Restaurants in World’s Top 50 belongs to Italian Reflections

It(aly) makes cents: Naples by Bonnie Alberts

The city of the sun, the sea and the Volcano, Naples, is life lived on the street! Private spaces mingle with public places, and for many, an apartment is just a place to sleep (and of course eat).

Entertainment abounds, much of it for free. In fact, you don’t need to spend a centissimo, except perhaps for food. Of course knowing the Neapolitan hospitality as I do, strike up a conversation with someone on the street and you just might find yourself sitting at their kitchen table for lunch.

Bask

Bask in a bevy of Baroque art, commune with Saint Thomas Aquinas and see 45 Aragonese tombs at San Domenico Maggiore Church. Free

Be baffled

Be baffled, bemused, or blown away by the always thought provoking exhibits at PAN, Palazzo delle Arti. Free (charges may apply for special exhibits)

Be inspired

Be inspired by Virgil, one of the most important writers in history, at his tomb and Crypta Neapolitana in Parco Vergiliano a Piedigrotta. Free

Capture

Capture an award winning shot of the sun rising over Vesuvius at Fontana dell’Immacolata on Via Partenope. Free

Join

Join joggers, bikers, strollers, and lovers for a passeggiata along Lungomare, Naples stunning, seafront promenade. Free

Lose

Lose yourself in the literary offerings and peruse to your hearts content among the numerous bookstore along Via Port’Alba.  Free

Savour

Savour the best caffe in the world and save €1,60 (or more) taking your caffe at the bar. People and barista watching is free.

Seek

Seek favour from and care for, one of the Lost Souls of Purgatory, Anime Pezzentelle, at the Fontanelle Cemetery. Free

Shop

Shop the Pignasecca for fresh fruit, bread, cheese and a jug of €2 wine. Head to Palazzo Reale and take your picnic with Mimmo Palladino’s horses in the Giardino Romantico over looking Castel Nuovo.

Zig-zag

Zig-zag down Salita della Pedimentina’s 414 elongated steps, 650 meters, from a Castle to a Corso, amid a patchwork of rooftops and cupolas. Free

Bonnie says: “Beautiful, chaotic, unbending, romantic, confusing. That is Naples, Italy and that is why I love living here.

I’m a freelance writer and photographer with a degree in Historic Preservation.

Passionate about my adopted home, for me Naples is the perfect canvas. From its breathtaking vistas to its rich cultural heritage, I could live here a lifetime and never see it all, photograph it all, or write about it all. But I’m willing to give it a try!

Join me for an insiders view of Napoli as I uncover her sights, sounds and flavors at Napoli Unpluuged!

Next stop in this new series is Turin with Lara Statham!

Making Cents of Naples belongs to Italian Reflections

Tonight sees BBC1′s MasterChef in Florence and Ravello:

The T.V. guide says: “After seven weeks of tough competition, remaining hopefuls Dale, Larkin and Natalie enter the last week – three consecutive nights of culinary challenges, after which one of them will be crowned MasterChef Champion. To begin, they are sent on a culinary odyssey of Italy, to learn from two of the country’s most highly regarded food experts – legendary rustic cook Mamma Agata and Italo Bassi, one of two `first chefs’ at Florence’s Enoteca Pinchiorri restaurant, which has held three Michelin stars for almost a decade. The contestants take masterclasses with both, and then put their new skills into practice, cooking an elite lunch for luminaries of the Florentine art world.”

For those in Italy with access to UK TV Channels, its on BBC 1, Monday 30th April at 22:00 until 23:00 CET (21:00 p.m. – 22:00 p.m. GMT).

MasterChef in Florence belongs to Italian Reflections

The Art of Writing, a retreat in the Casentino Mountains of Tuscany:

If you need help with your writing, join our writers workshop from 8th to 14th June and 14th to 20th September 2014.

The workshops and lectures are geared to both first time and established writers and conducted by two successful authors Lisa Clifford and James Friel.

Lisa says: “The classes will offer valuable information and networking opportunities and enable you to concentrate on how to get your work into a condition to be published.

Our workshops combine lectures from guest speakers – providing you with literary interaction with several published authors. There will also be time for relaxation by the beautiful swimming pool or discovery and solitude from a walk in the nearby woods.

However, you will be expected to work intensively, spending the morning in lectures, writing in the afternoon, gaining feedback from your tutors and through interaction with your group.

Morning lectures include classes on structure, drafting, point of view, dialogue, description, scenes, writing from a sense of place and how to get your work published.

Evening workshops combine discussion and lectures from guest speakers that specialise in fiction, memoir, biography, historical, romance, creative non-fiction, blogging and internet presence.

All this combined with talks from other guest writers and the attention and feedback you may need to encourage the creative process.”

For full information on accommodation and pricing please check The Art of Writing website.

Contact Lisa at info@the-art-of-writing.com

The Art of Writing 2014 belongs to Italian Reflections

If you´re thinking of teaching English in Italy here are a few simple Dos and Don’ts to help make the process easier!

Dos:

Do… choose to teach in a state school oppose to a private language school. You could earn more working in the state system than for a private language school. It also means that you will only work until 2pm, giving you free afternoons and evenings. Whereas in private education it is often required that you work until 10pm or 11pm.

Do… submit your CV and cover letter in Italian. This is essential. You are unlikely to be considered otherwise.

Do… build a rapport with the right people. If you find that there are not any positions available at the time make sure you get noticed and are remembered. Offer to help out with a school activity or perhaps offer to meet with a teacher on a voluntary basis to help them practice their English conversation skills. This will stand you in good stead the next time an opportunity becomes available.

Do… become an “English Expert”. This is the easier way to get an individual teaching job in a public school. As unless you have an Italian degree or an Italian Teaching Qualification or have convinced the authorities that the degree from your home country is valid (it’s not easy) then you will have to be accompanied in class by another teacher.

Do… make sure you highlight any past teaching experience. An applicant with experience will almost always be taken over one who does not.

Don´ts:

Don´t… simply address your CV and cover letter to the School. Make sure your application finds its way to the right person. This means sending it directly to the Head of English at the school. It is also recommendable that you deliver your application in person. This gives you the chance to market yourself on the spot.

Don´t… expect that the selection process is the same in each school. Sometimes it could be a case of only sending in your CV. In other cases there could be a more lengthy process of interviews and selection rounds. Be prepared!

Don´t…expect that speaking English is enough. Although you will only speak English in the classroom you will need to have a competent level of Italian. The majority of schools will not be willing to take you on unless this is the case.

Don´t… be put off by the competition. There can be significant competition for each teaching position but universities and schools are always on the look-out for native English speakers and opportunities constantly come available due to the staff high turnover rates.

Don´t… give up. For example if you try to deliver your CV and cover letter in person, ask for the Head of English and don´t take no for an answer! You´ll probably be told that they are busy but wait and keep going back until you are seen. Also if you are rejected the first time, keep sending your CV each time a position becomes available.

The DOs and DON’Ts of Teaching English in Italy belongs to Italian Reflections

Fortunately the editors at Startle.com have scoured the globe and found ten of the best honeymoon hotels where you and yours can really enjoy your recent matrimony. And the Island of Capri hosts the only Italian Hotel listed.

Startle says about itself that “its the luxury lifestyle platform that combines the objectivity and heritage of the Forbes Travel Guide star rating system with insightful recommendations from a hand-selected group of tastemakers and travel experts”

As to the hotel, J.K. Place Capri, they say: “The idyllic Italian island of Capri is where you’ll find this exquisitely charming hotel. J.K. Place Capri‘s elegant nautical theme is appropriate for its waterfront setting overlooking the Marina Grande port. The only bad thing about honeymooning at J.K. Capri is you may have a hard time leaving your guest room. The villas here feature romantic canopy beds and views of the Tyrrhenian Sea.”

For the full list check out the Startle website.

Capri Listed as 1 of the 10 Honeymoon Havens for 2013 belongs to Italian Reflections

As summer approaches and balmy evenings become a regular feature of daily life, the thought of watching television recedes into the background. However this summer things may well change whilst you are sitting outside!

It was some 13 years ago that the Astra satellite fleet was launched and expats have enjoyed their UK television programmes via satellite without any real interruption during that period. However, the problem this year is that the average life expectancy for satellites of the Astra variety is 12 years, and replacements are being tested now.

Last year BBC, ITV, C4 and 5 were moved from Astra 2D to Astra 1N, but this summer they will move again whilst Astra 1N moves to its original destination of 19 degrees, and the channels move to their new homes on Astra 2E and Astra 2F. It may well be that all UK public service channels will disappear via satellite broadcast this year.

There are alternatives to satellite TV and using your Internet connection may be the solution especially in the long term.

It might just be the right time to decide what you are going to do!

To find out more check out these websites which are constantly updated and give out a lot of relevant information:

Satellite changes at 28.2° East

Astra 2E

Astra 2F

Astra 2F Reception Map

Latest News

UK TV & Radio online: Live TV and Radio Streaming.

US TV online: Live US TV Streams & VOD – the links listed in this section on this page do not require a US IP address and be viewed worldwide.

UK TVCatch-up (UK only IP addresses) – TVCatchup is a FREE service that lets you watch live UK television on your computer, phone or other devices connected to the internet.

FilmOn (Worldwide) – Watch and Record over 500 LIVE TV Channels for free!

Apple TV (For those with an iPad) Just stream TV via your iPad to your HD TV.

or just contact Brad at Italia WiFi for “Plug and Play Internet with 100% coverage across Italy”!

Will U.K. TV Channels Disappear for Italian Residents? belongs to Italian Reflections

The Radio Times says: “Correspondence by economist Gustavo Piga, Huffington Post editor Lucia Annunziata, Five Stars campaigner Carlo Sibilia, journalist Annalisa Piras and novelist Dacia Maraini provides an insight into the events that have placed the international spotlight on Italy in recent months. The writers express their thoughts on a range of subjects including the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the announcement of his successor, and the country’s economic fragility and political developments.”

Check out the BBC Radio 4 website

Letters from Italy belongs to Italian Reflections