ItaliAnna - Wine, food & Piemonte

How To Counter The Cold In Italy

2012-02-07T10:19:00.000+01:00

What? Rome is in a state of emergency for the cold? More and more I keep thinking that the 2012 prophecy is really going to happen. Well, after a mild winter we got blasted with a Siberian snow/ice storm here too. No morning espresso is needed to wake up before school since the frigid -13 temperatures are a sure-fire way to get those eyes open. So what have we been doing to counter the cold

BLAST FROM THE PAST: NOV.1 2004 TOTAL CONFUSION

2012-02-02T17:04:00.000+01:00

Ok...talk about panic! I missed both my trains back to Saluzzo and this train station in Torino is CRAZY! Everyone is rushing around, no-one speaks English, and finally after calming down I call my boss to ask if she can speak to the Saluzzo secretary "S" and explain the situation. They tell me to go to some Svegliana or something like that (it is actually called SAVIGLIANO;)). So I try asking

Anna Maria Abbona Dolcetto Tasting

2012-01-31T11:19:00.000+01:00

In Piemonte, the native grape variety Dolcetto can often be perceived as just being your average table wine. However, a few Dolcetto winemakers from the D.O.C.G. wine appellation and town called Dogliani are taking it more seriously and producing some phenomenal stuff! The first "WOW" Dolcetto that I ever tried was at Chionetti and since then my thoughts have changed about this varietal. As

GNOCCHI FAMILY RECIPE ( by Ken Savino)

2012-01-27T17:54:00.002+01:00

In our family we traditionally made gnocchi without egg as an ingredient. However, I have moved over to the “egg” camp because it produces lighter pasta. Ingredients 3 Potatoes (preferably Russet variety or baking potato which is high in starch –close to 2 lbs)1 Large egg2 cups All-purpose flour (may need more or less)1 tsp Salt and a little white or black pepper To Prepare Scrub

Rally In .... Montecarlo ? Sounds Good!

2012-01-24T11:13:00.000+01:00

This weekend the World Rally Championship was held in "Montecarlo" and as we all know, Italian men love cars...especially FAST cars! I had never heard of the sport Rally before coming to Italy despite its English sounding name. Basically it is a race of souped up street cars which skid around the hairpin turns on Europe's winding roads. When I heard about the event, I knew Claudio would be

Gnocchi Di Zucca (Squash Gnocchi) With Fonduta

2012-01-19T17:10:00.000+01:00

Last Friday night, we went to one of our favorite restaurants in Saluzzo called Terra Gemella with our friends. We are lucky that it is right down the street from our house so we can even pop in once in a while to take home a nice bottle of wine. I have already written a post on this charming restaurant and now I want to give you the delicious recipe given to me by the chef/owner Romina. For

BLAST FROM THE PAST: OCT. 30, 2004 GASTRONOMIC CHALLENGE

2012-01-13T18:20:00.001+01:00

I still have not caught up on sleep and did not know we had to change the clocks back so I woke up one hour earlier than everyone else in the house. We got up and went to their favorite restaurant to face what Sandro called our "gastronomic challenge". AGAIN!? Antipasti: Platters of meats, cheeses and veggies...oh yeah.. and an extra cheese plate just for me. They also asked for a whole order

Challenges of Detoxing In Italy

2012-01-10T16:28:00.002+01:00

One of my favorite books is Eat Pray Love and naturally I love the Italy part "eat" the best. As I was struggling through my 4 day detox diet this week, this part of the book came to mind: "I mean, when am I going to do my yoga stretches? Before my Italian speedball breakfast of chocolate pastries and double cappuccino? Or after? ( )...I would gamely roll out my Yoga mat every morning but

HOLIDAY NUGGETS

2012-01-07T19:07:00.000+01:00

I know this post is a little too late because by now you are all working on your New Year's Resolution to keep your waistlines trim. In case you still feel like cookies here is a really good recipe for you all! 2 cups flour½ tsp salt¾ cup shortening ( I USED MARGARINE IN ITALY)¼ cup butter, softened½ cup powdered sugar, siftedadditional powdered sugar1 Tbs vanilla extract1 tsp almond

Blast From The Past : Oct. 30 My Encounter At The Pescara Station

2012-01-03T17:24:00.000+01:00

The train actually arrived early and therefore I almost missed the Pescara stop. There are no freakin signs, no announcements, no nothing but looking out the window and approximating the right time with the right stop. Once I got an open seat and finally had the chance to close my eyes I noticed that we stopped at a big station. After awhile I asked someone if "questo Pescara?". He said, "Si"

Forti Del Vento: Capovia " A New Beginning"

2011-12-29T17:19:00.000+01:00

This Christmas I received some fun wine gifts including a "peace out" wine stopper and a brand new wine journal. Therefore, I decided to bring in the new year by writing my tasting notes on a fresh page and tasting Forti Del Vento's Capovia. Coincidentally, Capovia means, beginning of a new path or street. This Monferrato Rosso D.O.C. made from 100% Dolcetto grapes come from a "far out" area

Blast From The Past: Oct. 29 2004 11:00 p.m. Heading to Pescara

2011-12-28T15:12:00.001+01:00

Oh god... I hope I am on the right train! All the info on my ticket matched the sign but it said Bari instead of Pescara. I am hoping it is the first stop on that route and if not I am in serious trouble! So I found platform 6 and said "permesso" to this old man so I could sit next to him on the bench. He started speaking to me in Italian and somehow I tried to keep up. The train arrives

How Christmas Shopping In Italy Is Different Than In The States

2011-12-21T18:56:00.001+01:00

Sometimes I feel like I will never get used to the Italian ways. I have come to the conclusion that Italians are extreme. Either things are beautifully done or incredibly ugly! I remember my dad always telling me that he too, was always surprised how Italian's could be the most talented artists of all time (ex: DaVinci, Colosseum, etc.) and at the same time build the most ghastly concrete

Blast From the Past: Oct. 29 2004 At The Train Station: Torino

2011-12-17T18:58:00.001+01:00

Why do all Italian men have such long hair and wear leather jackets? GROSS! After getting my Fiscal Code this morning 3 hours later, I had to run around to 3 different ATMs in order to get 370 euros out. (That is a lot of US dollars!) I am so out of my element right now. Thank god Alessandro (R's brother in the family where I am staying) was taking the train to Torino to visit his

Cà Del Bosco Franciacorta Cuvée Prestige

2011-12-13T17:02:00.002+01:00

Even though I had never heard of this wine before living in Italy, it seems like an old friend by now. During my European Wine Bloggers Conference #EWBC trip to Brescia this October, we tasted many Franciacorta wines (made by Champagne Method) and learned all about them. My favorite of the whole trip was Cà Del Bosco's Annamaria Clementi which is an icon wine known for its incredible refinement

Blast From The Past: Oct. 29, 2004 Too Tired To Deal With Fiscal Codes

2011-12-09T13:02:00.000+01:00

So this is another wonderful morning...NOT! I wake up early but R is not up so I take a shower and her little sis makes me coffee. For some reason I am sooo tired. Then R simply dropped me off at the Fiscal office in Cuneo. I have no idea why I am here, what I have to get, and how I am supposed to get back to the school afterwards! I love how they expect me to know everything. So then I asked

Old Style Italian Bread

2011-12-06T17:40:00.000+01:00

This week I nearly reached a nervous breakdown. No time to breathe...no time for a cup of coffee... no time to meditate. Despite such a stressful and fast paced week, I couldn't miss the opportunity to go to Milan last Saturday. The event was organized by Radio Popolare and Sovversivi Del Gusto, hence called POPOGUSTO. 5:30 a.m. came too quickly Saturday morning, but once I got there I slooowed

Blast From The Past: Oct. 28, 2004 First Trip To The Questura

2011-12-02T16:51:00.000+01:00

OH - MY- GOD- THE- QUESTURA. This morning I waited in line with all the Albanian, Tunisian, and Moroccan immigrants who were all fluently speaking Italian. I got dropped off by myself and didn't know what the hell I was supposed to do there! I also decided on wearing my highest shoes (now that I am living in Italy) and didn't know that I would wait in a hot smelly line for 3 hours. It was

Thanksgiving In Italy 2011: All About Polenta

2011-11-28T18:24:00.000+01:00

Polenta took the place of cornbread on Thanksgiving this year in Italy. I was so gracious that my English teacher colleagues decided to throw me a "surprise"American / Italian Thanksgiving dinner just for me! I was excited to eat at Graziella's house because she always makes the most delicious and genuine food. She was even so kind to decorate the house with festive centerpieces and stick to the

Is This Another Barbera Wine Scam?

2011-11-21T18:30:00.003+01:00

Something funny happened this weekend. We had dinner at our house both on Friday and Saturday with different people, yet they both coincidentally brought us the same exact bottle of wine. The first night I didn't notice but the second, I was curious to find out what this "ubiquitous" bottle actually was. Looking closer at the label, I was shocked! For someone who is learning about wine, I gave

Driver's License In Italy

2011-11-18T15:18:00.000+01:00

Oh my god...I have gone back to my high school days. A backpack has taken the place of my purse. I take trains and buses to school with all the students, and then, I am forced to take Italian driving lessons at the highschool frequented Driving school. This probably explains why I haven't posted lately on food and wine:) I started my driving lessons in a Citroen 3 with a very animated

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Oct. 27, 2004 before bed

2011-11-09T15:18:00.000+01:00

My First Good Day I woke up to a beautiful day with the sun shining and saw one of the most amazing landscapes I have ever seen! There was a huge snow capped mountain popping up behind the narrow cobblestone streets. I wish I could have taken a photo. www.superstock.co.uk Today my boyfriend called and we were able to talk for about 20 minutes and ended the conversation with me saying "good

Blast From The Past : Oct. 26 Cuneo - The Napoletano Guy

2011-11-07T10:14:00.001+01:00

An Italian guy named Lello came to the school and asked me questions about English. Then he started asking me all about America and talking to me about Napoli (which is funny because the secretary's dad always jokes that I sound Napoletana when I speak!). He gave me his number and already texted me a nice message saying if I ever need anything I can always call him. He will take me "under the

Baked Butternut Squash and Apples

2011-11-06T13:24:00.000+01:00

What's for lunch today: ZUCCA E MELE ( baked butternut squash and apples) I was craving squash...it was all around me...the crisp cold air...the bright orange color...my body was calling for something hearty and full of vitamins... Heat the oven to 180 celsius. Cut 2 inch slice of squash into cubes Sauteè a thinly sliced white or brown onion until transparent and then add the squash

Barbaresco at Azienda Agricola Varaldo

2011-11-03T18:19:00.000+01:00

Where did this weekend bring us? BARBARESCO! With the excuse of officially signing the contract for our lot in La Morra, we once again found ourselves in Langhe. We didn't want to get mixed up in the fuss of the Fiera del Tartufo (world famous truffle festival in Alba) so we went to visit one of our friends named, "Rino Quello Alto" (That tall guy Rino). He has a small family run winery in