Spaghetti Westerns & Tuscan Cowboys. The original cowboys were Italian! Oh yes they were! The Butteri of southern Tuscany have been an intrinsic part of the Maremma area for centuries, riding and roping long-horned cattle on horseback. Maybe that explains, in part, why Italians have always been intrigued with the American West. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, recognized as one of the top ten films of all time, was an Italian-made Western, emblematic of the widely popular genre of movies directed by Italian, Sergio Leone, in the 1960s and 70s that were ultimately dubbed "Spaghetti Westerns." They were a stark depiction of the Old West, featuring characters who possessed both heroic and villainous traits, the most prominent being "The Man...
Celebrate "mamma" on her special day!
Whether you are together or apart, share your love by sharing a meal across your tables. Chef Christianne is channeling her female sophisticated touch in this beautiful menu that captures healthy fresh flavors and is designed for the discerning tastes of Mom. We have paired this menu with optional special refreshments and flowers to complete the ultimate Mother's Day package.
It's a Roman Holiday! The iconic Academy Award winning movie, Roman Holiday, helped to position post-war Italy as a mecca for film, fashion and modern culture. A story of a nemph-like princess, played by Audrey Hepburn, it recounts her one glorious day on the lam in Rome. The 1950's viewer is introduced, possibly for the first time, to the seductive Eternal City through her experiences -- like riding on a run-away Vespa, dancing in a piazza, sitting at a sidewalk café or enjoying a gelato on the Spanish Steps. Our menu this week highlights some of Rome's most beloved and popular dishes - dishes that you will find in most every Roman Trattoria today. Will you join us for dinner...
Renaissance Masters and Food.
Italy boasts some of the longest living citizens in the world. A crucial reason is the Italian diet with its roots in the past. Much like today, food was the cultural center of life in Renaissance Italy. It played an important role in religious holidays and family celebrations and relied heavily on the use of seasonal ingredients. The Italians had some of the best chefs and cooks in Europe at the time.
This week’s menu is an interpretation using ingredients that Italians most certainly enjoyed in the early 16th century, including many fresh aromatics.
Lombardia: Where it All Began. Italy has lifted all COVID-related restrictions. "These are important measures that remove almost all the curbs that have restricted us. I would also like to thank all Italians for their altruism and patience over the years. We are often perceived as having little sense of civic duty, but instead we have done very well in this pandemic. We should be proud," said Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Italy and, most specifically, the region of Lombardia, was the first Western nation to be devastated by the disease. Despite all this, Italians have a truly unique take on life – maybe because they have suffered so many hardships through time, they have mastered a fundamental understanding of what really matters....
