For years Mensanello has been just a nearby working Tuscan farm. My grandmother has aways referred to the Fattore and Fattoressa, the farm manager and his wife, with enormous respect. Mum used to buy fresh eggs from the Fattoressa, we used to go there on a Sunday to mass. There was a…
I have always lived in the countryside, in the same house where grandma and dad were born, but for years the countryside was little more than a well-kept garden, an olive tree orchard and a hedgerow of blackberries at the end of summer. My parents belong to that generation, grown…
When we talk about chocolate salame, my mind goes immediately to what we call rotolino in my family, a soft sponge roll brushed with the ubiquitous pinkish alchermes and spread with chocolate and custard. But there is another chocolate salame, which is made with very few ingredients that you will…
Nine years ago it was a shelf in my mum's kitchen. This is where I began collecting my first spices and props, even when I didn't know they could have a name, props. For me they were just cups, saucers and kitchen towels. When I open that shelf now, full…
Sit with me. Let me pour you a cup of tea. There are fragments of a warm autumn afternoon light playing on the table, among the teacups. It’s an everyday afternoon, but we will make it stand out just by choosing your favourite cup, just by stealing ten minutes in the…
We've been the champions of the Tuscan staycation this year, working throughout August when almost everyone else was on holidays, carving out weekends and mornings to spend exploring our region or simply having a break at home. We made small videos and long naps. In one of our weekend getaways we drove…
I thought this would be a birthday without a cake, a low key celebration, I didn't feel like making anything special. Yesterday I went to bed feeling not as excited as I always am the night before my favourite day of the year. I am tired and in a desperate need…
I took the good decision to live this summer on my own terms. No make up, loose linen clothes which might not be flattering for my thick hourglass figure, but help me stay fresh and pretend I'm constantly on holidays, even though I am sweating in the kitchen while roasting a chicken…