Le Marche: The Secret of Santa Vittoria.
Food and entertainment are great diversions. On occasion, it is good to get lost in an old movie especially when it tells the story of man’s past struggles and creative solutions to catastrophic situations.
The Secret Life of Santa Vittoria, a delightful classic Italian-American film, is based on a true story of resolve, courage, community spirit, and…one million bottles of wine! It is set in Italy’s beautiful Le Marche region, the backdrop for this week’s authentic late August dinner.
Spas & Thermal Springs: 3,000 Years of R+R. Imagine…a glass in hand, a string quartet playing as you stroll through beautifully manicured gardens. A glass of water full of promises to enhance your wellbeing. The healing waters that gush from the Italian earth are drunk, soaked in and endlessly talked about. With a history of R+R that stretches back thousands of years, the Italians know a thing or two about unwinding in style. Many American spas today tout rigorous weight loss agendas, classes on meditation and strenuous sports activities. Spas in Italy have been popular since the time of the Etruscans and Romans when they would “take the waters” in natural hot springs. They have always been a combination of...
Palio di Siena: The craziest (and tastiest) horse race in the world!Siena is the scene of one of the most anticipated and exciting historical horse races of the year. To celebrate, the entire city takes to the streets to eat and drink at parties that last all week. These communal dinners bring people together to share in centuries-old traditions of camaraderie and local culinary specialties.Though the Palio will not take place again this year, undoubtedly Siena’s citizens will find solace in a great meal at home – just like the one we are featuring this week.
Santa Cristina Campogrande Orvieto Classico 2020 Combining Italian soul with new world flavor and vitality, this classic Orvieto encompasses the area around the alluvial cliff on which the city of Orvieto is located. It is not far from Rome in Umbria. Expertly made by Antinori, Campogrande 2020 is a blend of Procanico (the local name for Trebbiano) and Grechetto. It is cool-fermented and sees no oak, so the natural varietal flavors come through clearly in a rather rich, mouth-filling and gently aromatic flavor. Its nose is intense with pleasant fruity aromas of peaches and apricots with floral notes of orange blossoms. The medium weight palate it is soft, fresh with a tart white fruit which is framed by mouth-watering acidity....
Ferragosto: August Staycation with Mamma. For the two weeks before and after the holiday of Ferragosto on August 15th, it seems as if all of Italy goes on vacation crowding the beaches and mountain resorts and leaving the cities virtually deserted. As with all other Italian holidays, food is the main attraction whether prepared for a festive picnic or stay-at-home summer lunch. "Il Pranzo di Ferragosto"/"A Mid-August Lunch" is a delightful cult film that is a glimpse into the life of a middle aged bachelor living with his octogenarian mother over the long holiday weekend in Rome. Food, appetite, and the need for community are prominent themes along with an intimate peak into the complicated dynamics that exist between Italian...
