red underwear for NYE

Buon Anno- Happy New Year!!

Here we are at the end of 2015 and like every year, we made it to the "red week", or that week of the year when Italians devote some of their time to buy red underwear to properly welcome the new year.

Xmas dinner @CasaJasmina

A couple of months ago, we were contacted by world-renowned Sci-Fi author Bruce Sterling who is currently living in Turin. He's a fan of Turin Epicurean Capital and had a question about wine for his guests at Casa Jasmina. This is how we found out about this amazing project in collaboration with Fab Lab Torino and Officine Arduino.

Bruce Sterling and Miss Bee

the Malvasia winery

In Turin, 2015 was the year of Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco produced by Cascina Gilli. 

We have already presented Malvasia as a Piedmontese wine in general, but this specific variant by this small local producer is so unique that it deserves a post on its own.

the Dragon in Turin

The largest collection of Asian art in Italy is in Turin at MAO - Museo d'Arte Orientale. This is one very special museum because it hosts unique pieces and constantly entices the public with unusual events and rare temporary exhibits.

We love it because it constantly offers new opportunities to experience Asian cultures and single aspects of the Far East we would never get the chance to know otherwise. 

During Turin Epicurean Capital 2015, for example, we were invited to admire the special National Geographic exhibit about the world of the spices. Visitors plunged in the aromas and the colors of the original countries where the most exotic spices we use today are from.

Shocking Elsa Schiaparelli

Adriana Delfino wearing her own homage to Elsa "Schiap" 

Turin fashion designer Adriana Delfino in collaboration with Talen.To closed her fashion presentations about women designers with Elsa Schiaparelli. After stylish Coco Chanel and genius Madeleine Vionnet, Elsa or Schiap's sense of fashion can be described as artistically shocking and highly creative.

Her creativity survives as new to our days as we enjoy her fashion legacy on a daily basis whenever we wear fuchsia, wrap dresses, decorative zips, huge pockets and many other things that are now considered "normal".

All her creations witness her quick wit, education and curious nature, Elsa is born in 1890 to a wealthy Roman family: her father is an intellectual, one of her uncles an astronomer, the other one was Ernesto Schiaparelli, a famous archaeologist who directed the Egyptian museum of Turin. 

She grows up surrounded by culture and books but, as she later writes in her autobiography Shocking Life her mom has always made her feel very self-conscious about her look.

After a short time in a boarding school in Switzerland - where she is sent after the publication of a love poem booklet, she follows a family friend to London.

Paris is the first stop of this trip and also her debut in the fashion world because for an important evening, she makes herself a wrap dress with a sheet. Unfortunately, as she can't sew, over the hours the dress falls apart.

Vionnet the fashion architect

This week, Turin fashion designer, Adriana Delfino held the second presentation about French designer, Madeleine Vionnet.

Adriana's presentations takes place at Spazio 28 in collaboration with Talen.To in Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 28, in the courtyard, in Turin,

Adriana will present Elsa Schiaparelli on Tuesday, Dec 1st @6:30pm and on Wednesday, Dec 2nd @10:30am.

To reserve, e-mail: torinospazio28@gmail.com or

call: 335 666 1281

As Vionnet is Adriana's favorite designer, we just couldn't miss, and a whole new world of fashion architecture opened to us under Adriana's guide.

Because of the many movies we all tend to consider Coco Chanel as the main female fashion innovator, however, Madeleine Vionnet was years ahead of her times for many things, and as a highly educated woman, the fashion style she developed is still unique, timeless and virtually impossible to copy! No wonder Adriana is so fascinated by her.

Lake Orta is Paradise

Enjoy our friend Jim Dunlop's guest post about Lake Orta, one of the one day destinations from Turin!

Originally studied Chemical Engineering and Sales and Marketing, Jim worked for some large multinational companies including in Casale Monferrato  and Bergamo. He ran his own consultancy and sales business before retiring a few years ago. Married to Julia hence the title of this post which is our retirement project!

As yet he has not started a blog but he will do once he has enough stories to put in it.

Travels with Julia (a few Days in Paradise)

As the first rays of sunshine burst over the hills behind Sacro Monte di Orta, bringing a summer vibrancy to our balcony I put down my pen and let the warmth sweep over me in the cool stillness of the morning. Not a sound was heard save the solitary cooing of a pigeon on the roof above. Isola di San Giulio lay at peace with itself and from this distance the morning traffic on the opposite shore could not be heard. Nothing was stirring in Pella. High above on a precarious ledge Madonna del Sasso sat watching another day arrive.

Faustina's Langhe fresco

This week, our friend Faustina Gilbey will share her Piedmontese side and what this region has stamped on her heart!

I’m English but for the past 8 years have been living in Italy, the first 2 years in the Alta Langhe, Piemonte and now for the last 6 years in Albino near Bergamo.

Before moving to Italy I lived in London, South Africa and Canada, cooking, travelling and researching food. I wrote a cookbook and also wrote for about 6 years for a daily Canadian CBC Television cooking show. In London I worked mainly in the media and event organising (including the British Museum, Barbican and BAFTA) as well as in independent Film & TV production.

I moved here to be with my partner Fiorenzo, and we have a Feldenkrais, Floating and Food Therapy Centre: www.spaziof.org. I continue my love of food and research by exploring all the wonderful places and products in Italy – mainly Northern Italy; I’m a member of Slow Food Italia; I do seminars on healthy cooking and juicing and have a food/health blog Eating Clouds in Italy. 

Women's fashion by women in fashion

Turin has always had a preferred sense for fashion and to celebrate it, Turin fashion designer and fashion historian, Adriana Delfino is holding three mini seminars about three big women fashion icons: Coco Chanel, Madeleine Vionnet and Elsa Schiaparelli.

Piedmont's brilliance

This week we are hosting our friend Sebastian Sassi's guest post and what he loves about Piedmont.

Sebastian Sassi and his hot wife Brooke - just love her hair!!

Sebastian Sassi is part of the husband and wife team that operate Sassi Italy Tours out of Colorado Springs, CO; they work with his art historian father, Doug Sassi, to navigate discerning travelers to Italy's typically-undiscovered-by-tourists treasures, artisanal food and wine producers, and off the beaten path adventures.
His life-long fascination with Italian culture drives him to want to share what he's learned from his father and from his experiences in Italy with those who share the traveler's spirit.

Riikka, Langhetta on high heels

One of the purposes of the Turin Epicurean Capital round tables is to share our local resources and culture both from the insider's point of view and the external one. This is how we got in touch with Riikka Sukula of the Sukula boutique winery in Serralunga D'Alba, about ninety minutes driving from Turin.

Carolina's fruity sauce

This week we are hosting Carolina Stupino's guest post about Piedmont flavors and in particular: cugnà.

Born in Turin to a wine producing father and a food loving mother, Carolina always enjoyed good food. Over a decade ago, she moved to the UK  to study and work as a journalist. Since then her goal in the kitchen  has been to bring the flavours of Northern Italian cuisine to London, to recreate the dishes of her childhood with the ingredients she could find over there. That’s been the starting point of a gastronomic journey which brought her to explore different cooking traditions from around the world. But without ever losing sight of her origins. Carolina is also the author of Tastes of Carolina

5 day trips from Turin

This week our friend Ishita had a special request for us as she's visualizing in detail her next trip to Turin and Piedmont. At the moment she is organizing everything in her mind and on her own, and just like most non European visitors, she will not be driving. So, this post is for her and all those people who dream of visiting Italy, unconventional places and, above all, love sleek architecture, amazing food and top quality wines!
Here below you'll find our tips for 5 day trips you can easily do from Turin by train and/or bus.

In fact, given the geological and geographical conformation of Piedmont and Turin's location, you can really enjoy our many diverse landscapes from the Alps to the lakes, passing through royal residences and medieval towns.

Hotel Genova: where the celebs go

During Turin Epicurean Capital 2015, two of our guests: Sandra Jimenez Osorio and Maria Pasquale were hosted by the elegant Hotel Genova right in Turin's heart, so we decided to go and see in person how well they were treated!

Balbiano's wine tasting

Continuing our visit at the Balbiano winery, right out of the last toy room, the wine tasting started!

The first wine we had was  the bubbly rosé.
This spumante or "foamy wine" made following the charmat method gets its delicate pink color after spending only 8/9h in the conducts with the grape skins.

It is a smooth, round wine low in tannins best paired with Chinese and Indian dishes.

the Balbiano winery museum

When it comes to wine Piedmont is the Italian Burgundy and Turin is one of the 3 European cities with a urban vineyard.
Last year we visited this Queen's villa vineyard during the harvest so today we'll tell you about the Balbianos, the winemakers who manage it.

Turin's Villa della Regina aka the Queen's Villa vineyard during the 2014 harvest

a rustic Sunday lunch

Many Italians still enjoy the family tradition of the Sunday lunch - il pranzo della domenica. It is a happy occasion to meet with the whole family around the table and eat while catching up and gossiping. Traditionally, families meet at mamma's because her cuisine has the magic power of bringing us back to our childhood years.

In Italian more than in any other language and culture the expression "there's nothing like mamma's food" is true, but nowadays many families have decided to give a break to mamma, at least on Sundays or on big family celebrations, and treat her at the restaurant to allow her to enjoy the meal too.

magic Vezzolano Abbey

Art and history lovers - especially if with a passion for food and outstanding wine - will be amazed by the Vezzolano Abbey from the 12th century.

Hotel Genio refined atmosphere

Very few Turin residents are aware of the real beauty of our hotels and how amazing their services are. We usually walk past them imagining what the visitors are like and what they do, so this week we decided to go and have a look at Hotel Genio where Lisa Comento and Laura Silver were hosted when they took part to Turin Epicurean Capital 2015 in July.

Turin Epicurean Capital's collaboration with Hotel Genio was possible thanks to Mr Roberto Anino director of Federalberghi - TYSM again!

Although in Turin, Hotel Genio is one of the top downtown hotels, we had never been inside like a regular visitor. From Laura and Lisa, we knew it was a great hotel and now we understand why they were so excited!

Hotel Genio is located in the central Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 47 and it's part of the Best Western chain. This is definitely one of those places where you want to sleep at least once in your life!

TRN Turin airport

yes, Turin has its own tiny and beautifully working airport!! 

TRN is the international code for the Turin airport, "Caselle" for the residents. 

TRN is connected to the major European and Italian cities plus some extra EU ones.

Coming from outside Europe, many visitors are not aware that Turin actually has its own airport and just waste their time and money landing in Milan and then getting over here by train or bus.

That's very unfortunate because, as Turin airport doesn't have many Alitalia flights, whenever there's a national air strike, it is one of the very few fully working airports in Italy!

Turin: devil's city

Enjoy this very interesting guest post by Mari Biella, an author and blogger. She has been writing from an early age, and her mother still has some highly embarrassing poems and stories to prove it. Her published works are The Quickening a psychological ghost story set in the Victorian Age, and Loving Imogen a collection consisting of a novella and three short stories. A free short story, The Song of the Sea, may be downloaded from her website.

Mari was born and raised in Britain, but currently lives in Northern Italy. She’ll read just about anything she can get her hands on, but particularly enjoys literary fiction, psychological horror, and crime fiction. In her free time she enjoys travelling and exploring Europe’s lesser-known corners. 

Rebekka's slow fashion in Turin

Right in downtown Turin, inside a courtyard, there is a shop where you can find Rebekka, a quite unique fashion line made of eclectic patterns and styles. Olivia Magee is the Irish owner who has been calling Turin her home since 1990s.  

Originally from Cavan County in Ulster, Olivia left the emerald island to come to Italy and learn Italian; without knowing much and following a friend's recommendation, she ended up in Turin, and the city has slowly grown on her for its atmosphere, architecture and long avenues.

At the end of her first year as an au pair in Turin, Olivia decided to stay and took a job in one of Piazza Vittorio bars and right there she met Mario, her husband and her best friends.

When talking about Italian fashion, Milan and Florence come up right away, yet the very first fashion show in Italy took place in Turin, where a long sartorial tradition and sense of fashion has always been in the DNA of the locals. If the Italian silk hub is on the Como Lake, the cashmere one is in Biella, one of Piedmont provinces. As for the Turin area, Chieri has the textile hub since the middle ages with its wool, cotton and hemp fabric production. By the 15th century a moleskin guild was established to guarantee the quality of its production. 

Olivia's husband Mario has worked in the textile industry all his life; his grandfather had a loom and Olivia has always been totally fascinated by it and by the swarming creativity of Turin and Chieri so tied to the fashion world and the famous brands.

Fashion though wasn't in Olivia's plans for a while, in fact, after getting married and having three kids, she was an ESL teacher. In 2014 though she manifested her wish to work in fashion and decided to collaborate with a stylist friend of hers.

Pepino's pinguino gelato

Add the royal seal in the logo signaled Pepino as a gelato royal supplier

Turin: hidden treasure

Enjoy this guest post by Tom from Bristol (UK) co-author of There's treasure everywhere a very interesting and rich website about art, travel, books, movies and food. This website aims to be a place where you can read about the hidden gems that make your life better. 

Thanks to this trip to Turin, there is now a travel section on his website and more people can be introduced to this wonderful city!

Turin is a hidden treasure

Our decision to visit Turin was made without a great deal of research. We wanted to visit a city that was near mountains. One that would be interesting but with plenty of scope for relaxing, oh and some nice food and wine would be great as well. 

Nestled in the foot of the Alps, the location was as expected perfect. What we didn’t realise though was how beautiful, stimulating and downright delicious the city would be.

TurinEpi July 23

Just like any other good thing in life, Turin Epicurean Capital 2015 came to an end on July 23. 

The third day of the second edition started with the round table facilitated by Maria Pasquale who started by sharing her amazement about Turin during her first time last April. The topic of her round table easily outlined from her memories and the magic happened again: the round table participants were so carried away by their talks that the interpreters were literally left out and after checking with the audience, it was decided they didn't need to translate such long pieces of conversation.

TurinEpi15 July 22

Wednesday, July 22  was a rich day of events for all the Turin Epicurean Capital 2015 guests. We started the day with the second round table facilitated by Daniela Mondino. 

As there were four guests with a very varied background, Daniela prepared customized questions for each one of them, yet keeping food as the main common topic. 

Daniela introduced herself to explain where her questions where originating, and as a Turinese who had lived in Dublin asked Silvia Baldini about her feelings as a Turinese living in the US.

TurinEpi15 July 21

Putting together Turin Epicurean Capital is the work of years of weaving relationships through the different SoMe accounts where foodies, food professionals and people who have the bug for food and wine converge. This second edition especially showed the power of online contacts and how they can easily materialize in our off line lives.

Turin Epicurean Capital 2015

Last week this time, the second edition of Turin Epicurean Capital was about to start. 

These were 3 full days of events, talks, visits, food and conviviality. At times the guests were so carried away by their topics the interpreters didn't even have the time to translate. But yeah, this is what happens when finally, after tweeting and interacting online on different platforms, a bunch of passionate people meet to talk about their favorite topic: food, wine and life.

Turinepi15 day 3

On July 23 Turin Epicurean Capital 2015 will finish with a homage to fashion to remember how Italian fashion was born in Turin.

As usual the morning program will start at 10:45am with the round table facilitated by Maria Pasquale.

Maria is an Aussie currently residing in Rome where she has her own event & PR company. She's one of the most credited SoMe influencers about Italy through her blog HeartRome. 

Maria will facilitate:

Turinepi15 day 2

July 22 2015 there will be the second day of Turin Epicurean Capital 2015.

This will be a rich day for all our guests as it will start with a round table and it will finish with 3 tours!!

Turinepi15 day 1

We are almost ready to start the second edition of Turin Epicurean Capital.

The July 21 program will have a round table in the morning and the inauguration of a photo exhibit in the afternoon.

10 reasons to visit Turin

Michelle Bottalico is an American photojournalist and photographer who is now living in Turin. Her interest in photography developed from this passion for art and from watching her parents and grandfather take and develop photos in the darkroom. After graduating from college, she decided to embark on a photography career and worked as a newspaper photojournalist and wedding and family photographer in the Philadelphia area for a few years before leaving everything to travel all around Italy. Italy made such an impression on her that she decided to stay and now shoots child and family portraits and weddings here in Turin as well as photographing her travels, Italian life, and the scenery around her whenever she can.

Michelle will take part to Turin Epicurean Capital 2015 with a photo exhibit at Collegio San Giuseppe which will be presented on Tuesday July 21 at 4pm. Michelle's exhibit will be open from July 21 to July 23.

Turin: a real feast!

Enjoy Daniela Mondino's guest post about how Turin really is from the eyes of a resident who saw its evolution over the years. A Dubliner in Turin, like many, Daniela rediscovered her hometown after leaving it for a while. Now the Language Program Director at Alfaform in Turin, her love for the city keeps growing fonder every year as she keeps learning about it to show its different sides when her overseas relatives visit. 

Daniela is also one of the facilitators of Turin Epicurean Capital 2015.

ITA Turin Epicurean Capital 2015

Il conto alla rovescia e' cominciato e tra meno di un mese inizia la seconda edizione di Turin Epicurean Capital - Torino Capitale Epicurea!

Siete pronti?

Turin Epicurean Capital 2015

The count down has officially started and in a month there will be the second edition of Turin Epicurean Capital. Are you ready?

living Turin style

Diana Zahuranec of Wine Pass who took part to Turin Epicurean Capital 2014 has decided to create Blogging Piemonte an online community of bloggers based in Piedmont and blogging in English.

We met in May and picked the first topic: authentic life in Piedmont.

After 11 years living in the Midwest, even though I am a Turin native, I did have to sit down and think about what this topic meant to me. This is how I came up with a list of things I missed while overseas and those that have always been part of my Turin way of life as a native.

10 things to live Turin style 

1. social eating and especially eating local cuisine, more particularly at the risotto restaurant where they have a glorious menu of risottos that changes according to what the season offers:P 

10 dos and don'ts in Turin

Our Twitter friend Serge the Concierge invited us to write this post following his dos and donts section about Turin!

Naturally, there are many things to do and see here, but these are the basics.

Thanks Serge!!

Dos

1. Spend at least 5 days because Turin is amazing and 1 day isn't enough.

Bicerin at Al Bicerin Café

Campari: the aperitif from Piedmont

Aperitif lovers, Campari, Vermouth and Negroni aficionados of the universe, once again you owe your favorite cocktail to Piedmont! In fact, the world-famous Campari drink takes its name from Gaspare Campari, the man who registered its recipe and founded its company.

Campari posters

Chef Giachello's research of flavors

Restaurant La Smarrita is a culinary symbol in Turin; located in Palazzo Salmatoris in the super central Piazza Carlo Alberto, this is where the Kingdom of Italy was born in 1861 and where Count Camillo Benso of Cavour, the first Italian Prime Minister, had his office. In fact, he just needed to cross the square to get to Palazzo Carignano, the very first Italian Parliament.

Today, La Smarrita strives to keep the Langhe culinary traditions alive in the heart Turin offering authentic seasonal specialties paired with the best wines of small selected local producers. 

The commander in chief of the kitchen is Chef Marco Giachello, a Turinese at heart, or "DOC" as you would say in Italian, borrowing the high quality certification of Italian wines (controlled designation of origin).

Chef Giachello majored in cooking from high school and worked his culinary career up from the lower levels of restaurant kitchens, to the top of the best Turin's restaurants. 

His passion for food and local products was shaped by his maternal grandmother, nonna Teresa who just like his mom, was a very skilled cook. Growing up, Marco would spend the summer in the Langhe wine district at his maternal grandparents' who had a small vineyard, tiny orchard and a small vegetable garden. Most of what they cooked and ate came directly from their land and nonna Teresa would craft amazing traditional meals!

Bialetti's coffee revolution

Moka Express

Coffee has been an Italian passion since it arrived to Europe and everything revolving around it has become a rite.

Of all the Italian cities Turin is definitely the one where more coffee brands originated - think of Lavazza, Vergnano, Costadoro, just to name three, and where you can enjoy your coffee break in a different historical café each day of the week.

Given the local passion for coffee, it doesn't come as a surprise that even Bialetti, the famous Italian percolator brand is from Piedmont!

Now a wider industrial group, Bialetti as a brand took its name from Alfonso Bialetti, the original founder of the company in 1919, in the Northern part of Piedmont.

Following the trends, back then Mr Bialetti produced aluminum products and it was only in 1933 that he completed Luigi Da Ponte's design for a modern stove-top coffee maker.

Aurora: Turin's fountain pen

There's probably not a bigger symbol of education and style together than a fountain pen. Even in our digital world, handwritten notes have become precious as our handwriting reveals hidden sides of our nature and feelings. As a natural extension, the pen we choose to write or sign something gains an extra meaning automatically making a statement. 

Aurora vintage poster

5 things I didn't expect in Turin

We are sharing Maria Pasquale's guest post about her first exciting visit to Turin and Piedmont!

Born to Italian parents, Maria always knew Rome was her destiny, although she was raised in Melbourne. She has a formal background in political science and policy and now runs her own event management & PR company, through which she manages marketing & social media for Eating Europe Food Tours (Rome, London, Amsterdam & Prague). An unabashed romantic (Rome being her one true love!) she is the creator of popular food, travel and lifestyle blog HeartRome. Her blog was runner up as the Best Italy Travel Blog in the 2015 Italy Magazine Blog Awards and is featured as a go-to source for Rome in the Rough Guide to Italy. 

She is a Local Expert for 10Best & Tripology, USA Today and was voted in the top 100 travel bloggers to follow on social media in 2014. In Rome you'll find Maria walking the streets of Trastevere, checking out the latest bar for an aperitivo or dining with friends.

5 things I didn't expect to discover in Turin

I spent a short 36 hours in Turin last month and put simply, now I'm in love. In fact, I can't get her off my mind and I can't wait to get back.

If I have to be honest it took a while for me to get there. 

Tulips, Fashion, Food in the Pralormo castle

In Piedmont we are very lucky people, in fact, we have more castles than the Loire Valley in France!
Many of these castles have always something going on, from festivals to presentations, even movie and fashion shootings. Naturally most castles have beautiful gardens and many are still inhabited by the original noble families who built it centuries ago.
Some castles are also open to the public who can choose among medieval, renaissance, baroque or a more contemporary castle.

During the tulip season though, the castle of choice is il castello di Pralormo or the Pralormo castle!

Located at just about 1h driving from Turin, this castle was built back in the Middle Ages and the descendants of the first counts of Pralormo have been living there since 1600!

Vermouth means Turin

Think of a cocktail or a cocktail builder and you'll instantly think of Vermouth. No matter where you are, either looking at a vintage vermouth poster in Ohio, or strolling downtown Turin, the connection between this drink and the city will stand out right away.

Martini & Rossi vintage poster 

Turin for coffee lovers

Some say you can tell the real soul of a city by the local habits and how the locals spend their free time. If it is true then, Turin's soul is in its cafés and its love for coffee and hot chocolate.

In fact, as a typical 18th century city, Turin has always had the bug for coffee, coffee houses and even chocolate houses. Here, intellectuals, politicians and authors have always enjoyed their espresso cups, bicerin or even only the velvety quiet of the café to regroup their ideas.
Turin's deep love for coffee is reinstated by the different Italian coffee brands founded in the city (e.g.: Lavazza, Vergnano, Costadoro) and even Bialetti, the famous Italian percolator, was invented in Piedmont!
Many cultures in the world definitely share the coffee rite and many other Italian cities are famous for their cafés, however, only Turin really offers so many opportunities to enjoy coffee in a full royal way!

Caffé Mulassano in Piazza Castello

Ishita's St.Michael's Abbey

Ishita Sood is an Indian blogger who visited Italy for a couple of weeks and fell in love. Since then, she has been writing, reading and researching on the country. Ishita plans to return to the country soon and visit the unexplored regions. She writes the blog, Italophilia! Italy, Books, and More..! 

Sacra di San Michele

Turin's chocolate wonders

It may be news to many but Turin has actually been having a long lasting and very steady chocolate love affair.

Caval 'd Bronz window for Easter 2013

Miss Bee's March tea

March in Turin means spring, more light hours, warmer temperatures and rains. Just like in other parts of Italy, here too the International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8th still marks the local calendars together with mimosa flowers in the streets.

even pastry shops and cafes display mimosa flower inspired candies for March 8th

Miss Bee

Clarissa's amazing cakes

We celebrated the arrival of March in company of our friend ItalianKiwi and for the occasion we picked what might just be one of the best possible places for cakes in Turin: Clarissa!!

As you can see on their menu they serve their own bicerin, savory specialties, as well as sweet ones, plus whipped cream

Terri Nakamura's quiche

As the weather hasn't warmed up yet in many parts of the world, Turin and Piedmont included, our friend Terri Nakamura shares with us a recipe with a springtime flavor.

Terri is a graphic designer, a Brand influencer, an awesome photographer, the owner of a surf shop in Seattle, a blogger and a woman with a deep sense of humor.

She has also two very cute cats that you can see on her Instagram account @terrinakamura

Please use this link for unit conversions and let's go with Terri's springtime quiche!

#FF #FunFebruary in Piedmont

Piedmont is a wonderful place to be 12 months a year and February offers many things to do in Turin too, also if you travel on a budget!

The weather changes every year, sometimes it may be colder and snowy, others milder, but no matter the temperatures, there are always many things to do, see, specialties to try and wines to sip.

can't get Torino out of Silvia

This guest post is by our friend Silvia Baldini, chef and owner of Strawberry and Sage. After her classical studies in Italy, a degree in architecture and graduating from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Silvia worked in advertising for 17 years. Secretly, however, she always dreamed of becoming a chef. So, she went back to school and graduated from the Cornell and French Culinary Institute in NYC with a degree in restaurant management.

She then moved to London with her husband Michele where she continued her culinary education with a Cuisine Diploma from Cordon Bleu. This is where, in the depths of a kitchen restaurant, she learned a lot and she got to fulfill one of her biggest dreams - yell “SERVICE!” in a restaurant, really, really loudly. After working at some prestigious European Michelin star restaurants, she started an event company called Strawberry and Sage: a creative food group, an outlet for her real passion: food. She now lives on the East Coast and she works on making Strawberry and Sage a dream become reality.

Silvia works with private clients, celebrities, fashion and food photographers and cook book authors. 
 She has appeared on national TV (in the US) and on cooking shows on the Food Network.  She is the Jamie Oliver’s food revolution ambassador in New Canaan Ct, she is the food contributor for the Hamlet Hub New Canaan, She has developed a series of lectures and culinary demonstrations with Analiese Paik of the Fairfield Green Food Guide to promote and teach about local and sustainable products, and she is currently writing her first cook book, Her work has been mentioned and frequently published in Saveur, the Jamie Oliver food revolution blog, CTBites, Cottages and Gardens, Serendipity, and international magazines.

Visiting Ivrea

Ivrea, the Piedmont Carnival capital

Coming over to Piedmont in February can be a great excuse to take part in the battle of the oranges in Ivrea, visiting the town and trying the local foods and wine.

The Battle of the Oranges in Ivrea is the largest foodfight in Italy. Photo courtesy of Valerio Minato 

Ivrea: THE Carnival in Piedmont

The battle of the oranges is the climax of the Carnival celebration in Ivrea, a small town in the Piedmont region, up in the Northwest part of Italy, at about 40 minute driving from Turin. This is also the area where Erbaluce di Caluso - the fairies wine is made. 

In 2014 the battle took place on March 2nd and it attracted up to 50,000 visitors worldwide.

Egyptian mummies and statues in Turin

Among the MANY reasons to visit Turin, the Egyptian museum, now (after the Arab Spring events) the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world, is definitely one.

Michelangelo Mammoliti's culinary symphony

We start the new year with Michelangelo Mammoliti aka the herbalist chef we met in August in the Roero wine district, a Unesco World Heritage site. Back in the summer, when we visited Osteria La Madernassa in Guarene, we got to know how he works, his cooking philosophy, about his French training and his love for local herbs and flowers, but over the Holidays we finally got the chance to savor his cuisine. And ho boy, what an experience! Our senses went on a trip we can hardly find the right words to describe because Michelangelo has the rare gift to give his food many dimensions, making of his menus a culinary composition, rather than a mere meal.

We arrived at Osteria La Madernassa with some expectations because we already knew him, had already tried his herb infused olive oils and had visited his herb garden around the osteria, however, even knowing him and seeing him at work, we couldn't simply imagine how his dishes could be shaped, how his flavors could be balanced or layered and how meaningful both the names and the display of his food could be.

Like any shy guests visiting a  high level restaurant in one of the world culinary lands, we picked a table in the sunlight and prepared to take gorgeous pictures; in fact, we knew Michelengelo, like the famous Renaissance artist, takes watercolor classes and puts a painstaking precision in anything that concerns the restaurant, not just the food. Every detail counts from the table cloth fabric and the silverware design people will use to eat his masterpieces, to of course, his kingdom: the kitchen or la cucina in Italian!