Italian Style Christmas
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And although you may be far from home, make the most of the season with our tips on how to celebrate an Italian Style Christmas. Your beginner’s kit should include first and foremost a Nativity Scene or presepe. These are essential during the holiday season and in […]Read More
Understanding Italian coffee
In Italy drinking coffee is a ritual. Italians love going to cafés for their coffee and if skipped they won’t survive the day. Before you order a coffee, let’s clarify first the difference between café and caffè. Well, coffee translates in Italian as “caffé“, while café is known as the “bar”, the place where you […]Read More
The Venice Carnival
When thinking of the Carnival, two cities stand out from the rest of the world, Venice and Rio. Given the cold temperatures in Italy since the start of 2016, my pick would definitely be Rio, but as I live in Milan with my wife and two small children, let’s talk about a more realistic travel option, […]Read More
48 Hours in Florence
Day 1 In the heart of Tuscany, Florence is where the Renaissance movement began. It is filled with art galleries, museums, and buildings that need to be seen during any visit. The first stop on this trip is to the city’s most popular art museum the Uffizi Gallery. The gallery is one of the best […]Read More
Two Worlds, One Relationship
Are you in an intercultural relationship? Do you know firsthand the unique joys of having a partner who enriches your worldview, and the frustrations of having a partner with whom you are often on different pages, based on different points of reference, different societal norms and countless different cultural nuances? In my counseling practice, I […]Read More
Have you met the Befana?
In Italy, January means epiphany and that means the Befana! (be’fa:na) which usually marks the end of the Christmas season. The Befana is a character from local folklore who makes her appearance during the feast of Epiphany on January 6th. In fact the name Befana comes from the word epifania, the Italian name for the religious festival […]Read More
How much do you know about Robert Burns?
Scotland is perhaps the only country in the world that regularly celebrates a poet: 25 January 2016 will mark the 257thanniversary of Robert Burns’ birth in 1759. Scots all over the world will get together for a traditional Burns Supper, which features Scotland’s most famous dish: haggis. We will have it flown in specially from […]Read More
Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
Time:30 minutes to prepare and 4 hours to cook Servings: Difficulty:easy Ingredients 1 turkey (any size) 2 cups (475ml) of broth or water melted unsalted butter for basting (optional) Method About an hour before roasting, take the turkey out of the fridge. Remove any packaging and giblets. Set the turkey breast-side up on the roasting […]Read More
How much do you know about St Andrew?
St Andrew’s Day (or more usually Night) is very important to all Scots around the world as it is when we celebrate Saint Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint. But how much do you know about him? Here’s a potted history: Andrew was a Galilean fisherman before he and his brother Simon Peter became disciples of Jesus […]Read More
Risotto ai Funghi Porcini – Porcini risotto
Porcini risotto is a classic Italian dish for the fall season. Time: 35 minutes Servings: 4 Difficulty: Easy Ingredients: 400 g Porcini mushrooms 320 g Carnaroli rice (or Arborio rice) 60 g butter 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil 1 small golden onion chopped 1 garlic clove salt freshly ground pepper parsley 50 g grated Parmesan […]Read More